SPAK and the French authorities crack down on drug gangs/ 16 arrested, among them Albanians

2024-07-02 11:51:00, Aktualitet CNA

SPAK and the French authorities crack down on drug gangs/ 16 arrested, among

The Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, based on the material referred by the Judicial Police Officers at the National Bureau of Investigation, has registered (mainly) criminal proceedings No. 38, of 2023, for the criminal offenses "Trafficking in narcotic substances" committed in the special form of cooperation of the structured criminal group, as well as the criminal offenses "Structured criminal group" and "Commitment of criminal offenses by criminal organization and group structured criminal", provided by articles 283/a, 28 point 4, 333/a and 334 of the Criminal Code.

In close cooperation with the investigation structures of the Criminal Police Department of the State Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as with the French justice authorities within the Joint Investigation Team, a series of important investigative actions have been undertaken.

Results of investigations in France

Based on the acts that have been administered in the interests of this criminal proceeding, it has resulted that, during the period August-December 2022, the French justice authorities have begun a preliminary investigation in the district of Albertville (73), regarding the actions of an organized criminal group of who is involved in drug trafficking. This facility was located in the Lyon region and supplied the sales groups located in the Savoy (73) and Haute-Savoie (74) regions. The special interprovincial jurisdiction of Lyon has taken over the file and opened a judicial investigation, the direction of which has been entrusted to the Investigation Section of Lyon.

The investigations carried out made it possible to confirm almost daily deliveries of narcotics to sales groups in the counties of Rhone (69), Ain (01), Savoie (73) and Haute-Savoie (74) by an Albanian citizen who lived in suburb of Lyon (69).

Illegal criminal activity in the field of narcotics that took place in French territory, was directed by an Albanian citizen who lived and resided in Albania.

Results of Investigations in Albania

From the joint investigations carried out by the prosecutor's offices of the two countries, it became possible to identify and prosecute in France and Albania 19 persons (Albanian citizens and foreigners), who were involved in illegal criminal activity in the field of narcotics, seizure of significant amounts of money, various narcotics (heroin and cocaine, as well as mixed substances), vehicles, electronic equipment, etc.

The French justice authorities have proceeded with the arrest of 16 Albanian and foreign citizens, the seizure of 20,000 euros and 3 vehicles.

For the interests of this criminal proceeding, the Special Prosecutor's Office has requested the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, the appointment of personal security measures for 3 (three) persons under investigation, and the court with its decision No. 66, dated 28.06.2024, has decided to accept the request, assigning coercive personal security measures "arrest in prison" provided by Article 238 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the 3 (three) persons under investigation.

On the part of the structures of the General Directorate of the State Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the officers of the French Gendarmerie (part of the Joint Investigation Team), personal security measures were executed for the persons under investigation who lived in Albania for the citizens: RD, ZF, FI

The Special Prosecutor's Office has asked the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, to set the asset insurance measure "preventive sequestration", for a bank account in euros.

On the part of the structures of the General Directorate of the State Police, and the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets at the Ministry of the Interior, the asset insurance measure "preventive seizure" has been executed for the bank account in euros, in the name of the person under investigation RD and citizen JH, of the monetary amount of 20,000 (twenty thousand) euros.

The prosecution requested the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime to carry out some checks, requests which were approved by the court, and where 10 (ten) court decisions were executed and checks were carried out ( houses, businesses, vehicles, and people).

After the checks carried out in the Albanian territory, the following items were seized:

· 15 vehicles,

· 34,270 euros in cash,

· 1000 Swiss francs,

· 180,000 new ALL,

· 9 mobile devices,

· 3 tablets,

· 1 camera, documents and SIM cards.

The value of the seized narcotics exceeds the value of 1 million euros.

Investigations continue with the administration of evidence regarding the implication of other persons suspected of being involved in this illegal criminal activity.

A special thanks goes to Eurojust, Europol, the French Gendarmerie, as well as the Internal Security Attaché of the French Embassy in Albania, who have supported and helped SPAK.

News in update...