SPAK strikes an international criminal network/ 20 security measures, over €128 million in assets seized

2026-06-12 19:43:00, Aktualitet CNA

SPAK strikes an international criminal network/ 20 security measures, over

The Special Prosecution Office has cracked down on a suspected international cocaine trafficking and laundering network.

As part of SPAK's actions, arrest and seizure warrants have been issued on numerous assets, worth over 128 million euros.

SPAK has conducted investigations within the framework of criminal proceedings no. 287/1, of 2021 for the following criminal offenses:

“Laundering of proceeds of crime” committed in the form of special cooperation of the structured criminal group
“Trafficking in narcotics” committed in the form of special cooperation of the structured criminal group
“Structured criminal group” and “Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization or a structured criminal group”
Based on the request of the Special Prosecution Office, the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, by decision no. 31, dated 10.6.2026, has determined the measure of personal security “Arrest in prison”, provided for by article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code for 15 Albanian citizens: AH, AZ (alias GB, GT) AR, A.SH, AI, EM, OB, OS, DA, LK, (alias AK), AV, KV, DK, (alias AK) EK, I.SH.

As well as the security measure "House arrest" for 5 other citizens: GI, LB, EJ, BM, ER

International drug trafficking

As part of a wide-ranging investigation into international drug trafficking and the laundering of proceeds of crime, law enforcement authorities have documented the activities of a criminal network that is suspected of operating in several European and Latin American countries. According to the investigation, the persons under investigation AH and LK are suspected of having played a leading role in organizing international cocaine trafficking from Latin American countries to Europe, through the main ports of Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands. The investigation has identified an organized structure that included the supply, transport, storage, chemical processing and distribution of narcotics in various European countries.

From the investigative data it results that the persons under investigation O. B, OS, AR, EM, DA, AG and MM also collaborated in this activity, while connections and collaborations with foreign citizens and criminal groups operating in various countries have been documented.

One of the main episodes investigated is related to the seizure of 441 kilograms of cocaine in Barcelona, ??Spain, where several citizens involved in the transportation of the narcotic substance were arrested. The investigations also revealed other seizures of significant quantities of cocaine in the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom, which are suspected to be related to the activity of the criminal network under investigation.

Through the analysis of communications secured on the SKY ECC platform and telephone interceptions conducted during this investigation, accompanied by the examination of various documents and acts, the authorities have documented continuous contacts and coordination between the persons under investigation regarding the organization of international drug trafficking, the management of laboratories in Latin America, the transport of cargo and the distribution of narcotics on European markets. In parallel with the investigations into drug trafficking, reasonable suspicions of laundering the proceeds of crime have also been documented. According to the investigations, the persons under investigation AR, EM, ER, AH, AZ, L. K, OB and OS are suspected of having invested proceeds of criminal origin in real estate, construction projects and commercial companies.

The investigations have also revealed the involvement of the persons under investigation A.Sh, AI, BM and EJ in actions that allegedly served to conceal the origin of assets and integrate illegal income into the formal economy.

According to the prosecuting body, some of the suspected investments are related to properties and construction projects in Tirana, Palasë, Himara and other coastal areas, as well as to commercial companies used for the circulation and investment of funds suspected of originating from criminal activity.

Investigations continue in cooperation with international partner authorities to fully document the facts, identify other persons involved, and trace assets suspected of deriving from criminal activity./ CNA