In a major operation, Albania’s Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has struck a significant blow against an international drug trafficking network responsible for smuggling over 6 tons of cocaine, valued at €411 million, from Ecuador and Colombia to various European Union countries and the United Kingdom. The operation, detailed in an official SPAK statement, has led to the investigation of 16 individuals, including prominent businessman Ermir Ndreaj, known as “Cinco,” brothers Klevis and Artur Hoxhosmani, and Ilir Lloshi.
SPAK’s Official Statement
On May 15, 2024, SPAK separated proceedings from the 2021 case (No. 184/1) and registered a new case (No. 184/3) against nine suspects identified as P. D., J. M., B. P., A. (alias D.) Sh., R. Rr., G. (alias K., alias E.) N., E. S., B. H., and J. P. These individuals face charges of “Trafficking of Narcotics” (Article 283/a/1 and Article 28/4), “Structured Criminal Group” (Article 333/a), and “Committing Criminal Offenses by a Structured Criminal Group” (Article 334) under Albania’s Penal Code.
Further investigations in July 2025 identified six additional suspects—A. H., K. H., E. N., E. A., P. D., and I. Ll.—implicated in multiple drug trafficking episodes, also charged with the same offenses. The operation was conducted in collaboration with European judicial authorities, Albania’s National Bureau of Investigation, and state police structures.
SPAK requested personal security measures for seven of the suspects, which were approved by the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime on July 25, 2025, under decision No. 77. The court ordered “arrest in prison” per Article 238 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. On the same day, six suspects—A. H., K. H., E. N., E. A., P. D., and I. Ll.—were arrested. During a search of A. H.’s residence, three unlicensed pistols were seized, leading to his arrest in flagrante delicto.
One suspect, D. P. (alias D. B., alias E. S.), remains at large, with efforts underway to locate and apprehend him in cooperation with state police and international partners. SPAK also obtained court approval for searches of residences, vehicles, and individuals, resulting in the seizure of significant assets and evidence.
Seized Assets
The operation yielded an extensive haul of assets, including:
Cash: €43,470 and 5,000 CHF.
Vehicles: A Mercedes Benz AMG G63, a Volkswagen Golf 7a, and a Volkswagen Sharan.
Luxury Vessel: A 2025 “Hull Works Sarock 40” yacht registered to a commercial entity.
Firearms: Three pistols with magazines and ammunition.
Luxury Watches: A Rolex (model 126613LN) and a Richard Mille (model Mclaren RM50-03/68).
Mobile Phones: 16 devices, primarily iPhones and Samsungs, some with active SIM cards.
Bank Cards and Financial Documents: 19 international bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and documents tied to accounts in the UAE, Germany, Italy, and Panama.
Electronic Equipment: A DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise drone, eight 6TB Hikvision hard drives, one Hikvision NVR, and two Baofeng communication radios.
Identification and Ownership Documents: Passports, IDs, driver’s licenses, maritime licenses, property certificates, notarial documents, and sales contracts from Albania, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
Drug Trafficking Episodes
SPAK’s investigation revealed that the criminal group operated extensively between 2020 and 2021, trafficking cocaine and cannabis across Europe. Key seizures include:
Spain (February 2020): 400 kg of cocaine.
Belgium (April 2020): 989.1 kg of cocaine.
Channel Tunnel (France-UK, April 2020): 250 kg of cocaine destined for the UK.
Netherlands (June 2020): Over 2,000 kg of cocaine, valued at €151 million (Source: ad.nl).
Netherlands (October 2020): 1,484.07 kg of cocaine.
Rimini, Italy (July 2020): 275 kg of cannabis.
Bari, Italy (March 2021): 400 kg of cannabis.
Algeciras, Spain (March-September 2020): 1,442 kg of cannabis, with 170 kg linked to the suspects.
France (February 2020): A vehicle and €72,000 in cash.
Modus Operandi
The group operated with a sophisticated, hierarchical structure, trafficking cocaine from Santa Marta, Colombia, and Ecuador to major European ports like Antwerp (Belgium) and Rotterdam (Netherlands), as well as overland routes through France and the Channel Tunnel to the UK. Drugs were concealed in legitimate cargo, such as wooden pallets, banana crates, or cocoa bean sacks, to evade customs detection.
The network was organized into specialized roles:
Leaders and Financiers: Ordered and funded drug shipments, coordinated routes, and managed logistics, operating from the EU, UK, and Dubai.
Logistics and Transport: Secured legitimate export or transport companies, hired drivers (often Romanian), and disguised shipments with legal goods.
Distribution: Handled receipt and local distribution in destination countries, primarily the UK and Western Europe.
South American Contacts: Unidentified individuals sourced, packaged, and shipped drugs to Europe.
Communication was conducted via the encrypted Sky/ECC platform, using pseudonyms and PIN codes to maintain anonymity. The group used the Hawala system for payments, enabling large-scale, untraceable financial transfers. Coded banknotes with pseudonyms, amounts, and dates served as tokens to verify transactions.
The group also leveraged connections with customs officials and port personnel across Europe to facilitate trafficking operations, a critical factor in their success.
International Cooperation
The operation’s success stemmed from close collaboration with EUROPOL, EUROJUST, Latin American law enforcement, UK agencies, and authorities in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Croatia. Albanian prosecutors Altin Dumani and Adnan Xholi emphasized the critical role of international coordination and decrypted Sky/ECC communications in identifying suspects, their roles, and the group’s criminal activities.
“This successful investigation reflects SPAK’s commitment to combating sophisticated Albanian criminal groups operating globally,” said Dumani and Xholi. “The collaboration with international partners and the analysis of decrypted communications were pivotal in securing evidence and achieving these results.”
Ongoing Efforts
With one suspect still at large and investigations ongoing, SPAK continues to work with domestic and international partners to dismantle the remaining elements of this network. The operation underscores the growing sophistication of Albanian criminal organizations and the importance of global cooperation in tackling transnational crime.