SPAK cooperates with Italian authorities to dismantle major cocaine trafficking network
A significant Albanian criminal network trafficking large quantities of cocaine from South America to Italian seaports, primarily Livorno, has been dismantled through a joint operation between the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) and Italian judicial authorities.
Why is this important: The operation highlights the extensive reach and complexity of Albanian organized crime, which remains active in global drug trafficking networks. The collaboration between Albanian and Italian authorities, with support from Eurojust and Europol, underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating these networks. Over 25 arrests across Italy and Albania, alongside the seizure of large quantities of drugs, emphasize the ongoing threat these networks pose to European security.
Details of the operation:
- Investigative efforts: Since December 2021, SPAK has been conducting investigations in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Mafia Directorate of Florence, Italy. The focus has been on dismantling networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine from South America to Europe.
- International coordination: The joint operation on November 5, 2024, involved Eurojust and resulted in the arrest of 23 individuals in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Calabria, Lazio, Puglia, Campania, Lombardy, Veneto, and Liguria. In Albania, two members of the network, identified as M.N. and J.K., were detained.
- Drug seizures and assets: Authorities have seized over 2 tons of cocaine, 45 kg of hashish, and 20 kg of marijuana, with an estimated street value of €70 million. Additional confiscated items include €20,000 in cash, luxury watches (including Rolex), a 2020 Audi RSQ8, and firearms. These seizures are a result of intelligence gathered through intercepts of encrypted communications via SkyECC.
Operational details: The network used sophisticated methods to smuggle drugs into Europe, hiding cocaine in containers filled with exotic fruits or in specially designed compartments. Tracking devices and specialized teams were used to recover the shipments at ports and distribute them to various criminal groups across Europe. The operation also involved simultaneous actions in France, Romania, and other affected countries.
What they said: SPAK expressed gratitude to the Florence Anti-Mafia Directorate, Guardia di Finanza, Eurojust, Europol, and the Albanian State Police for their coordinated efforts. The collaboration demonstrates a model for effective international law enforcement partnerships against transnational crime.
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