He was speaking after it emerged two key suspects from the Albanian underworld were arrested in the UK following international manhunts.
Albanian crime networks are established across the UK and have taken over much of the cocaine supply and homegrown cannabis production.
However, alleged senior figures in sourcing directly from South American cartels are also being identified here.
Genti Balliu, 40, was one of six suspected key players arrested in Belgium in December 2020. It is not clear how he was able to leave Belgium and get into the UK. The Met Police held him last month and he has been extradited to Belgium.
Earlier, in July Vladimir Shkambi, 35, was arrested by Met Police on a European Arrest Warrant from Italy where he had been held for attempted murder. He is currently fighting extradition in London.
Former Met officer Steve Morris said: “Our borders leak like a sieve. We have become a safe haven for international organised crime.”
The Home Office insisted that border security is of the “utmost importance”.
