Journalist Artan Hoxha spoke from Bogota showing how drug trafficking has changed in the cartels where there are Albanians in Latin America.
Hoxha said the killing of the leader of Ecuador's largest cartel has disrupted transport routes, with cartels moving to Peru.
"Considering this situation, the Albanians try to establish contacts with the cartels to ensure the cargo of cocaine, the transport to Europe and try to stay correct in these agreements, especially for the payments, to guarantee the continuity of the traffic.
We have learned that there has been a change in the last year. One of the destinations in recent years has been Ecuador, and Albanians are exposed there a lot because of the assassinations, at least 8 assassinations that have worried the authorities. But on the other hand, because the largest cartel in Ecuador, "Los Cholchoneros", has undergone a change and entered into a bloody battle, there are 20 thousand members, and in December 2020, the leader of this cartel was executed during an assassination and since then this cartel has entered into a conflict with its rivals and within itself. This has also caused problems for Albanian groups and has forced them to find new ways to transport cocaine. A part of the Albanian groups have moved to Peru. A few days ago, an Italian businessman and a Albanian were arrested with 2.3 cocaine ready to transport.
These cases begin in January, when a well-known person of the underworld in Albania was executed in Guajaquil and his hit was made because even in Ecuador the traffic lines were changing, but also from Albania there were clashes for traffic control.
In July, a cargo was intercepted in the port of Durrës, coming from Ecuador. When the crates were lost, it was about a load of 2 tons and 20 kg. Then there is the case of Skaf, which was found burnt, it is suspected that there were 2 tons of cocaine", said Hoxha in ABC