Joint Albania-Finland Drug Operation Dismantles Major Criminal Network

 The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK) in Albania, in coordination with law enforcement authorities in Finland, carried out a major anti-drug operation targeting an international criminal group involved in narcotics trafficking. Details of the operation were made public in a joint press conference held at 12:30 PM.

SPAk delegation with Finnish counterparts in Tirana, June 3, 2025

According to SPAK, the operation focused on a drug trafficking network operating between Albania, Spain, and Finland. The investigation began two years ago, initiated in Albania following intelligence provided by Finnish authorities. Prosecutor Arben Kraja stated that the drugs were trafficked either directly from Albania or routed through Spain to Finland.

Early this morning, arrest warrants were issued for 11 individuals, with 9 of them successfully apprehended. The Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) ordered pre-trial detention for all suspects. The arrests involved cooperation from Finnish police representatives present in Albania during the operation.

Prosecutor Alfred Shehu revealed that during the arrests, authorities seized 8 vehicles, mobile phones, and various documents, including materials in Finnish considered valuable to the ongoing investigation. He emphasized that cooperation with Finnish counterparts will continue and the investigation remains open.

From the Finnish side, the National Bureau of Investigation stated that the key figures of the criminal network operated out of Albania. The Finnish Commissioner for Crime praised the collaboration with SPAK and highlighted that over the past two years, 55 individuals were arrested and approximately 300 kg of narcotics were seized—including 170 kg of amphetamines, 10 kg of cocaine, 100 kg of marijuana, and various synthetic drugs.

SPAK Chief Altin Dumani explained that all those arrested today are Albanian nationals, and their criminal activity has spanned several years. While the group was based in Albania, its operations extended deep into Finland, with local collaborators of various nationalities, including Finnish citizens.

Dumani also noted a significant development: for the first time, Albanian criminal groups are heavily involved in trafficking synthetic drugs such as ecstasy, in addition to traditional substances like cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. The organization had established a distribution network in Finland, periodically sending individuals from Albania to manage drug sales directly on the ground.

This successful operation marks a major step forward in cross-border criminal justice cooperation and highlights the growing adaptability and reach of organized crime networks originating in the Balkans.