THE HAGUE, 07 Nov. - (ANA) - An international operation coordinated by Eurojust and Europol has disrupted the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine from South America to various Italian seaports. In total, 29 suspects belonging to an Albanian-led criminal network were arrested in Italy and Albania. Simultaneously, locations were searched in France, Romania, and Spain were searched to gather information and potential evidence. The successful crackdown is the result of a long-term joint investigation teams (JITs), supported and financed by Eurojust.

 

 

 

 

The organised crime group (OCG) was active in the wholesale distribution of drugs on the Italian market. The illicit drugs were hidden in containers with exotic fruits on vessels arriving in European ports from South America. On arrival, special recovery teams would remove the drugs from the containers and make them available to other criminal groups. The value of the drugs seized during the operation is estimated at EUR 70 million. 

 

Investigations into the Albanian criminal network began in 2021 on the initiative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Florence in Italy. In the same year a JIT was set up between the Italian and Albanian authorities. The investigation was supported by intercepted communications between criminal organisations, which used the encrypted SkyECC mobile communication tool.

 

At the request of the Italian authorities, Eurojust organised several coordination meetings between all the investigating bodies to prepare for the international action against the OCG. A coordination centre was set up at Eurojust’s premises in The Hague, to support ongoing searches and arrests in the five countries involved. 

 

Eurojust also assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders in France, Romania and Spain and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance to Albania. The arrest warrants were disseminated worldwide through INTERPOL, thanks to the Italian 3rd division of Central Service for International Police Cooperation.

 

The actions, coordinated by Eurojust and Europol, resulted in the seizure of more than two tonnes of cocaine, 45 kg of hashish, 20 kg of marijuana and 29 arrests, 27 in Italy and two in Albania.

 

 

 

 

· Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Florence; Guardia di Finanza Pisa Economic Financial Unit; Guardia di Finanza Central Service against organised crime; Guardia di Finanza Naval Station Livorno; Italian Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services; the Office of Security Experts at the Italian Embassy in Tirana; 3rd division of the Central Service for International Police Cooperation

 

· Albania: Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime(SPAK); Albanian State Police

 

· France: Judicial Court of Lyon – Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction – Organised Crime section; OFAST (National Office against Drug trafficking) National Police - Lyon

 

· Spain: Public Prosecutor Specialised Unit in International Cooperation of Tarragona; Investigative Court num. 6 of Tarragona; Group 11 of UDYCO of Policia Nacional

 

· Romania: Directorate for Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism – Covasna Local Bureau; Covasna Organized Crime Fighting Police Service.XT (Calibri 11)   - (ANA) -

 

 

AB/ANA/07 November 2024 - - -