At least 67 arrests, tens of bank accounts, trading companies, and seized vehicles are the result of an operation conducted in several European states that led to the destruction of four Albanian criminal groups on Monday, which were interlinked for trafficking narcotics, distribution, and sale in Italian markets. The operation was finalized after several years of investigation carried out by a joint team between Italian Antimafia authorities and the Special Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption in Albania, with the mediation of Eurojust.

The intervention to arrest members of the suspected criminal groups, supported by Europol and Interpol, extended not only in Albania and Italy but also in Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The network mainly trafficked heroin, cocaine, and hashish using cars with double floors or hidden compartments.

In Albania, according to the announcement of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, Monday’s operation led to the seizure of 32 trading entities, 45 vehicles, 4 motorcycles, over 200 bank accounts, and 19 immovable properties, which were estimated to have a value of over 5 million euros.

The criminal groups that were part of the network had separate tasks ranging from supply, distribution, and logistics. One was based in Florence and Mugello in Italy, another in the Netherlands covering Northern Europe and the needs for drug imports towards Italy, one group was spread across various Italian cities, while the fourth group covered distribution and trading in the streets and squares of Italy. According to documents found by Italian authorities, the network managed to sell up to approximately 50 kilograms of cocaine per month.