Anti-drug operation in Abu Dhabi/ Albanian criminal organization hit

2025-06-23 18:30:00, Kronika CNA

Spanish National Police officers, in collaboration with EUROPOL, INTERPOL and the authorities of the United Arab Emirates, have located and arrested a fugitive in Abu Dhabi, considered one of the world's leading drug traffickers. He was wanted as part of Operation "Pampa", which last year dismantled an Albanian criminal organization based in Ecuador that was smuggling cocaine through major European ports.

The investigation into the fugitive's whereabouts began in February 2024, during Operation "Pampa", which dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to the international trafficking of cocaine in fruit containers from Guayaquil to various European ports. During the joint operation with the Customs Supervision of the Tax Agency and the Ecuadorian National Police, in which 800 agents participated, a total of 40 people were arrested and 62 checks were carried out in both countries.

These resulted in the seizure of 500,000 euros and 2,370,000 dollars in cash, luxury vehicles, firearms and documentation, in addition to the seizure of properties worth 12 million euros and 88 financial products. The investigations also led to the seizure of six legal entities and the discovery of laundered assets worth 36 million euros, thus dismantling the economic structure of the organization.

During the operation, it was revealed how the detainee allegedly personally coordinated contacts with Colombian cocaine suppliers and the transportation and storage of illegal goods from the country of production to the Republic of Ecuador, where people under his command with influence in the port of Guayaquil were responsible for loading the drugs into containers belonging to fruit export companies that he controlled.

During the investigation, it became clear that the fugitive had a contract with Colombian suppliers to receive 4,000 kilograms of cocaine per month, which would be destined for the European market, thus confirming the size of the organization led by the Albanian drug boss.

The power of the dismantled organization was such that it was not limited to having a route for the introduction of narcotics through a specific European port, but also demonstrated its ability to use many of the main port areas, such as Antwerp (Belgium), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Algeciras (Spain), Hamburg (Germany), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Durres (Albania), Gioia Tauro (Italy) and Constanta (Romania), where the arrested had loyal associates, mainly members of the Albanian mafia under his command, who were responsible for the extraction and storage of drugs in European territory. /CNA