7.5 tons of cocaine headed to Europe/ Scheme revealed, here's how the Albanian-Polish mafia operated in Ecuador

2026-07-14 21:57:00, Kronika CNA

7.5 tons of cocaine headed to Europe/ Scheme revealed, here's how the

An operation carried out by the National Police and the Prosecutor's Office, with the support of Europol, has revealed the modus operandi of a Polish-Albanian criminal network operating in Ecuador.

The organization, accused of purchasing cocaine in Colombia for storage, transportation and export to the Netherlands and other European countries, is linked to the seizure of at least 7.5 tons of cocaine since 2019. According to authorities, the drug shipments were hidden in export products such as bananas, coffee, seafood, wood and canned goods.

Ecuadorian media write that investigations into organized crime and firearms uncovered a network that possessed weapons permits, front companies dedicated to sectors such as bananas, had committed tax evasion and verbal rental agreements in the Guayaquil metropolitan area.

According to the National Police, an Albanian citizen with Ecuadorian identification documents, identified by the initials Daci P., is one of the leaders of the criminal organization. It is suspected that he acted as the main leader of the Balkan mafia in the country, receiving instructions from Europe and coordinating the logistics of the operation in Ecuador.

Daci P. justified his stay in the country and his financial income through a registered RUC with a wide range of activities in the gastronomy and catering business. According to the suspect's tax returns, the Albanian recorded an average of 18,630 US dollars in monthly sales between the end of 2025 and mid-2026, but paid less than 50 US cents per month in VAT (Value Added Tax).

He initially declared a flat in the luxury Entre Rios area in Samborondon as his tax address. Later, in an attempt to avoid detention, his defense presented another address in the Casa Laguna urbanization in Daule. The owner of the flat stated that the rental agreement with the Albanian was only verbal and was formalized with a notarial declaration a few hours after his arrest and 16 other people on July 9.

Meanwhile, Polish citizen Jakimiec T. is suspected of also playing a leading role within the criminal network.

Jakimiec was arrested in an operation in the province of Santa Elena on June 8, 2026, following searches at his home in the parish of Manglaralto, where it was discovered that there was an active Interpol notice against him, issued by the Polish justice system with an extradition request.

In the apartment, police seized laptops, tablets, cameras, and several mobile phones with SIM cards.

"The suspects allegedly used encrypted electronic devices to coordinate logistical, operational and financial activities with international criminal organizations," police said. In addition, two firearms capable of firing were found (a shotgun and a blank-firing pistol). Although Jakimiec possessed a valid permit for one of them (valid until 2027), he lacked a permit to carry a pistol. The suspect faces a second trial for unauthorized possession of firearms.

Jakimiec is listed as a shareholder in a food and industrial trading company. The company, headquartered in Guayaquil, is involved in the brokerage of various products, including the wholesale sale of bananas, which coincides with the export sector that the organization allegedly used to transport drugs to Europe.

Authorities suspect that this company was used as a cover for the activities of the criminal network. Official documents show that the company had no registered employees, did not declare income and had declared assets of only $1,424. Operation "Gran Fénix 43 Azkaban" is considered one of the largest strikes against international drug trafficking in Ecuador, while investigations continue to identify the organization's collaborators and financial network. /CNA