Ylli Didani, known as the “Drug King,” has been sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking in Detroit, USA. A federal court in Detroit convicted the 43-year-old Albanian of cocaine trafficking, conspiracy to distribute cocaine aboard a ship, and money laundering.
The evidence at trial established that Didani was the leader of an international drug trafficking organization with ties to the United States, South America, and Europe. Didani and other associates planned and financed the distribution of cocaine from several countries, including the Eastern District of Michigan. Didani organized the distribution of large shipments of cocaine from South America to Europe, where the cocaine was seized by law enforcement.
As a result of this investigation, in 2019 and 2020, law enforcement seized over 3,400 kilograms of cocaine. Didan's organization loaded onto five different cargo ships that were destined for international ports.
Didani and other members of the organization had planned to design an underwater drone to transport large quantities of cocaine to Europe.
Announcement:
After a twelve-week trial in federal court, a federal jury convicted Ylli Didani, 43, an Albanian citizen, of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine aboard a vessel subject to United States jurisdiction, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division; Marty Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations; and Chief John Piggott, Farmington Hills Police Department.
The evidence at trial established that Didani was the leader of an international drug trafficking organization with ties to the United States, South America, and Europe. Didani and other unindicted associates planned and financed the distribution of cocaine from several countries, including the Eastern District of Michigan. Didani organized the distribution of large shipments of cocaine from South America to Europe, where the cocaine was seized by law enforcement. As a result of this investigation, in 2019 and 2020, law enforcement seized over 3,400 kilograms of cocaine. Didani’s organization loaded five different cargo ships that were destined for international ports. The cocaine seized has a street value of over $100,000,000.00.
The evidence at trial established that Didan and other members of his organization planned to design an underwater drone that would be used to transport large quantities of cocaine to Europe. The drone, which would be equipped with an underwater modem and GPS antenna, would transport the cocaine tied to the bottom of a commercial container ship. The drone would then be released remotely from the container ship on the coast of Europe. The drone and cocaine would then be collected by a fishing vessel controlled by Didan’s organization.
Didani faces life imprisonment as a result of today's sentences.
The case was investigated by DEA Group 6 (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)), consisting of DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers from Farmington Hills Police, Sterling Heights Police, Troy Police, Novi Police, Dearborn Heights Police and Northfield Township Police, IRS-CI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.