Albanian prosecutors announced on Saturday that they had dismantled one of the most powerful Albanian drug trafficking networks, which was responsible for transporting large quantities of cocaine from Paraguay to Western Europe.
During an operation conducted on 7 and 8 August, ten suspects were arrested, including nine in Albania and one in Belgium, according to Albania’s special prosecutor for organised crime and corruption. Authorities are still searching for six individuals.
The suspect arrested in Belgium has been identified by Albanian media as Franc Çopja, believed to be one of the network’s leaders.
In 2020, this organisation allegedly trafficked 28 tonnes of cocaine, of which 17 tonnes, valued at an estimated €3.5 billion, were seized, according to the statement.
Cargoes originating from Paraguay were routed to ports in Antwerp, Belgium—Europe’s primary entry point for cocaine—and Hamburg, Germany. The cocaine was concealed in boxes of soap, paint pots, or construction materials.
Albanian prosecutors Altin Dumani and Vladimir Mara described the group as “one of the most powerful Albanian organisations in international cocaine trafficking.” They noted its ability to directly influence cocaine prices on European markets and manage large drug quantities swiftly.
The investigation was conducted in cooperation with Europol and authorities in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, initially aided by decrypting Sky ECC messages, a communication tool favoured by drug traffickers.
Proceeds from the trafficking were laundered through investments in real estate, including the construction of luxury hotels in Albania and abroad.
