Elbasan Police arrested 45 individuals and declared 7 others as wanted suspects for the production, sale, and trafficking of narcotics in collaboration.

The three-month operation, codenamed “Network”, spanned seven cities and involved nearly 500 police forces. Elbasan is considered one of the most problematic areas for crime in Albania.

The police operation “Network” culminated after three months of meticulous surveillance, with the inspection of 52 residences and a series of local establishments and businesses by nearly 500 police officers in Elbasan, Cërrik, Peqin, Belsh, Librazhd, Përrenjas, and Pogradec.

At its conclusion, the police arrested 45 individuals and declared 7 others as wanted suspects. Ilir Proda, Director of Elbasan Police announced that in addition to narcotics, firearms and ammunition, silencers, knives, and significant amounts of money were seized in the controlled premises.

“During inspections of these premises, the Police found and confiscated as material evidence: 1 kilogram and 311 grams of cocaine, 860 grams of heroin, 1 kilogram and 317 grams of cannabis, thousands of doses of cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and methadone, as well as cannabis seeds,” Proda stated in a press conference this Thursday.

According to law enforcement, this operation dealt a significant blow to one criminal group and partially impacted three other groups.

These individuals have been involved in criminal activities related to the production, sale, and trafficking of narcotics for several years, organized into multiple criminal groups operating in different areas of influence.

27 of the arrested individuals were listed this year alone, while the others had been previously registered by anti-crime structures over the years. Among them, 11 are repeat offenders who had previously been convicted for drug trafficking, and 10 others have been convicted for other crimes.

The police detailed that five individuals, members of these criminal groups, were also arrested in flagrante, while 29 individuals were released but remain under investigation.

Elbasan is regarded by the police and independent security experts as one of the main bases and hotspots of criminal activity in Albania, where organized criminal groups often find refuge and carry out their operations.