An investigation carried out by Italian authorities led to serious suspicions over a potential drug ring between Albanian and Nigerian nationals with the intent to smuggle and then sell the narcotics in Italy.
Italian newspaper “L’Espresso” reported on Wednesday that after 3-year long investigations prosecutors in Rome arrested 52 suspects, half of which were from Albania and the others Italian and Africans.
They are alleged to be a part of a well-organized criminal group involved in the sale of cannabis in several major Italian cities. Authorities seized a large amount of drugs believed to be worth around €2 million.
Some of the names that popped out during the investigation were Albanian nationals Geraldo Bejaj and Sule Momodu. Italian media highlight that the group is not however related to the infamous Sicilian Cosa Nostra, nor Naples “Camorra” and Ndrangheta, pushing authorities to learn more about the case.
A network of car rentals was being used by the drug ring to transport the narcotics, and an Italian citizen has been detained after discovering that he had 350 vehicles under his name, despite having declared that he was unemployed.
The Italian paper also wrote that the Albanians are from the southern city of Vlora. Furthermore, Italian authorities believe that the Albanian suspects are collaborating with infamous Nigerian drug cartels such as Eiye, Black Axe, and Black Cats, who have been operating in Northern Italy for at least 10 years.
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