Joint Albanian-Italian operation cracks down on four criminal networks
Story Highlights
- Most members belonging to these organizations - five italians and five albanians - were arrested in Italy, where 100 of Lecce’s Guardi di Finanza and anti-organized crime operatives were engaged in the operation.
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TIRANA, Feb. 13 – A joint police operation between Albanian and Italian authorities on Tuesday led to the crackdown of four criminal groups suspected of drug and arms trafficking from Albania towards Italy.
At least 20 people, of whom six Italians and 14 Albanians were arrested, while 7 other Albanians are being wanted by the police.
Most members belonging to these organizations – five italians and five albanians – were arrested in Italy, where 100 of the Lecce Guardi di Finanza and anti-organized crime operatives were engaged in the operation.
Meanwhile, six Albanians were arrested in the country and three others – two Italians and one Albanian have long been in prison here.
In fact, investigations coordinated by the Italian Anti-mafia Directorate and the Albanian Serious Crimes Prosecution have been launched for two years now in both countries.
In Italy, the activity of groups that had operational bases in the province of Lecce and extended to at least six other areas from the south to the north of this country was uncovered. In Albania, investigations have been conducted in several major cities, mainly in Durres, Vlora and Lezha.
During these two years, criminal organizations have taken several hits.
According to an official announcement, Italy counts 26 operations that have led to the arrest of 31 people, while 90 others were investigated in a free state.
In total, over eight tons of marijuana, ten pounds of cocaine, weapons and ammunition were caught.
Albania has seen at least three cases during 2017 where about 2.3 tons of marijuana and three sailing vessels were caught aiming to be used for trafficking narcotics to Italy, while 3 people have been arrested.
The heads of the four organizations were mainly Albanians who ordered the drugs from Albania to further distribute them to the Italian territory. In this context, Italian investigators also said on Tuesday that Albanian criminal organizations have strengthened their activity in Italy, so that even domestic and mafia organizations are going to them to be supplied with drugs by handing in prepaid cash.
Details of the operation were simultaneously made public in Italy and Tirana, through a joint press conference. How to tell the weight of this operation, in Italy, at the press conference was the National Prosecutor of Italian Antimafia Federico Cafiero De Raho.
“It is an operation of great importance, as we have acted in strong cooperation with the Albanian authorities. Organizations relied on elements of Italian criminality, allowing them to import drugs into the Italian and European markets, which is evidence of the danger of these Albanian organizations,” said National Prosecutor of Italian Antimafia Federico Cafiero De Raho.
The Chief Prosecutor of Serious Crimes Prosecution, Donika Prela, also pointed out the activity of the joint investigative team which followed the case.
“From the moment of creation to date, this team can be considered as a success story not only with regard to the use of all procedural legal investigative techniques, but in particular of new investigation techniques,” the head of the Albanian Serious Crimes Prosecution Donika Prela said.
