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Drug trafficking from Latin America to Europe, Europol reveals details of the operation

2025-08-12 10:28:21Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Drug trafficking from Latin America to Europe, Europol reveals details of the

Europol has provided details on the crackdown on the "first Albanian drug trafficking cartel".

According to Europol, a series of raids carried out from 7 to 8 August 2025 in Albania led to the arrest of 10 suspected members of an Albanian organised crime network involved in multi-ton cocaine trafficking and money laundering.

“Law enforcement in Albania, in coordination with their colleagues from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, executed this Europol-supported operation against a clan-based criminal network.

Investigations have shown that the network has links to other high-risk international poly-criminal organisations active throughout the EU and beyond.

Following the arrest of a key member of the organization by Albanian authorities in late June 2025, the raids also led to the seizure of significant assets, including a hotel, various properties and businesses, and a wealth of physical and digital evidence.

The 15 search warrants carried out led to:

• 10 arrests

• Seizure of real estate such as a tourist resort, villas, apartments, plots of land, as well as vehicles and shares in companies worth several million euros.

• Seizure of 111,800 euros, 4,000 US dollars (approximately 3,434 euros), 880,000 Albanian lek (approximately 9,048 euros) in cash.

Although the Sky ECC encrypted communication platform was deactivated more than four years ago, its content still delivers operational results.

“The deep and targeted analysis of data at Europol allows cooperating law enforcement authorities to gather actionable information on high-level organized crime groups and their members.

This coordinated approach allows investigators to map the structure of high-risk criminal networks and the role of individual high-value targets.

This special operation led by the Albanian SPAK focused on a high-level Albanian target involved in cocaine trafficking and money laundering.

Investigators from Albania, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, together with Europol experts, analyzed Sky ECC's encrypted communication data.

Among the reconstructed criminal episodes were multi-ton shipments of cocaine trafficked from Latin America to major EU ports, including Hamburg and Rotterdam.

Investigations have shown that in just one of these shipments, the main target received more than 40 million US dollars for his share.

The leader of the criminal organization was responsible for organizing shipments and investing in very large quantities of cocaine.

He coordinated these massive criminal enterprises even from distant locations, relying on encrypted means of communication.

Prior to his arrest, he was wanted following a ruling by an Albanian court that recognized a 21-year prison sentence issued by an Italian court for murder, deprivation of liberty, attempted concealment of a corpse, threats, illegal possession of explosives and ammunition, and obstruction of justice.

The Albanian organized crime network under investigation operated with a truly global reach, as it collaborated with other groups that could facilitate shipments to EU ports.

He invested his massive income, which amounted to tens of millions of euros, in properties and businesses throughout Albania and other European countries.

Europol provided extensive expertise in the criminal areas under investigation, covering organized crime structures, large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering.

Based on big data analysis, numerous intelligence and analytical reports were distributed by Europol to cooperating partners, who also met and exchanged information in several operational meetings.

During the day of action, Europol deployed an organised crime expert to Tirana, Albania, who provided support with a mobile office and facilitated international law enforcement cooperation.

Participating countries:

• Albania: Special Prosecution Office for Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK); National Bureau of Investigation; State Police

• Belgium: Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie)

• France: National Police (Police Nationale)

• Germany: Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt); Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office (Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg / GER Karlsruhe)

• Netherlands: Police (Police)

• Italy: National Police (Polizia di Stato); Service for International Policy Cooperation (SCIP)

• Impact

The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) addresses the most important threats posed by organised crime and serious international crime affecting the EU.

EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners.

EMPACT operates in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities.


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