Drug Trafficking Groups Disrupted, Assets Seized Valuing Millions

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Posted by TGANB-Admin on 2025-06-09 09:14:04 |

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Eurojust supports cooperation between Italy and Albania resulting in massive seizure.

Eurojust, the European Union agency that oversees judicial cooperation in criminal matters, has supported cooperation between Italy and Albania in a massive effort to disrupt three organized crime groups (OCGs) involved in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering. The operation, which was conducted by the public prosecutor's offices of Bari and Tirana and the Albanian Police, led to the arrest of 52 suspects, the seizure of assets worth millions of euros, and the disruption of the operations of these criminal networks.

The OCGs were involved in payments of up to 5 million euros and the trafficking of at least 1,800 kilos of cocaine and heroin. The criminal networks were exposed after intensive surveillance and analysis of encrypted chats, supported by Eurojust's joint investigation team set up to facilitate cooperation between the investigating authorities of the two countries.

The operation resulted in the seizure of luxury assets, including apartments and companies, as well as various luxury vehicles. Large amounts of cash and quantities of cocaine and heroin were also seized.

Judicial cooperation between Italy and Albania has proven to be effective in combatting organized crime in recent years, with the issuance and execution of 118 arrest warrants against alleged drug traffickers operating in both countries between 2018 and 2021. The arrests made this week are the result of a long-term collaboration within a joint investigation team and intensive intelligence gathering, including the use of wiretaps and video surveillance.

The operation was conducted at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bari and the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office of Tirana, in collaboration with the Albanian Police and with the active assistance of Eurojust. This is a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal networks operating within the European Union and beyond.

Since 2020, Eurojust has supported the authorities in Italy and Albania with a joint investigation team and provided assistance with the execution of requests for Mutual Legal Assistance during the action day and cross-border judicial support.

The operations were also coordinated and supported by the office of the dedicated security expert at the Italian Embassy in Tirana.

This week's operation is a significant step in combating organized crime and drug trafficking, and the authorities in Italy and Albania, with the support of Eurojust, have sent a strong message to criminal networks operating across borders.

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