Nexhmedin Danaj, 57 years old, declared internationally wanted by Albanian authorities, has been arrested in Dubai, with the aim of his extradition to Albania.
The State Police announced that the arrest was carried out as part of another phase of the international operation codenamed "The Wanted", in cooperation with Interpol counterparts in Abu Dhabi.
Danaj was declared an international wanted person after, in April 2026, the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime had assigned him the security measure "Arrest in prison".
He is suspected of the criminal offenses of "Drug trafficking", "Laundering of proceeds of crime or criminal activity", "Structured criminal group" and "Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and a structured criminal group".
According to investigations by Albanian authorities, the 57-year-old is suspected of having, within the framework of a structured criminal group, co-financed, enabled and coordinated the trafficking of narcotics from Latin America to European Union countries.
State Police Announcement:
Another phase of the international operation codenamed "The Wanted" is being finalized, in cooperation with counterparts in the United Arab Emirates.
As a result of close cooperation between specialists from the Interpol Directorate and their counterparts from Interpol Abu Dhabi, during this phase of the international operation codenamed "The Wanted", citizen ND, 57 years old, has been provisionally arrested, with the aim of extradition to Albania.
This citizen was declared internationally wanted, after the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, in April 2026, assigned him the security measure "Arrest in prison", for the criminal offenses "Drug trafficking", "Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity", "Structured criminal group" and "Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and a structured criminal group".
Investigations suspect that the 57-year-old, as part of a structured criminal group, co-financed, facilitated and coordinated the trafficking of narcotics from Latin America to European Union countries.
Additionally, citizen ND is accused of using sophisticated financial methods, including digital transfers, to make significant payments, in several countries, for the purchase of narcotics.
Cooperation between Interpol Tirana and Interpol Abu Dhabi continues to finalize the procedures for the extradition of the 57-year-old to Albania.