Authorities in Italy have dismantled a vast and highly sophisticated criminal network operating primarily out of Lombardy, with operational branches extending across Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and Brazil. This unprecedented operation has captured the attention of Albanian communities across Europe due to the group’s direct connections with Albanian intermediaries and cocaine suppliers based in Latin America.
The large-scale investigation revealed a web of encrypted communication, complex logistics, and multi-country coordination. Through advanced surveillance techniques and analysis of secure messaging platforms, investigators were able to identify, trace, and ultimately dismantle the criminal structure before it could further strengthen its influence across the European drug market.
Direct Links to Albanian Cocaine Suppliers in Latin America
One of the most striking elements of the case was the organization’s direct line of contact with Albanian cocaine suppliers operating in Colombia and Brazil. Over the past decade, Albanian criminal groups have become increasingly influential in the global narcotics trade, especially in cocaine importation from Latin America to Europe. This investigation further underscores their strategic role as key intermediaries capable of negotiating large shipments, coordinating logistics, and managing trusted international routes.
The dismantled network relied on this Albanian connection to secure high-purity cocaine at competitive prices, enabling them to dominate drug markets across northern Italy and beyond. The partnership illustrates how Albanian-linked traffickers have solidified their presence as central players in global organized crime.
€27 Million Worth of Cocaine Smuggled into Lombardy
The cocaine shipments originated in South America and traveled across the Atlantic concealed inside commercial shipping containers. Once they reached Europe, the drugs were routed to Lombardy—one of Italy’s wealthiest and most strategic regions for distribution. The total value of drugs seized or traced during the investigation exceeded €27 million.
The organization used a smuggling technique commonly referred to as the “rip-on/rip-off” method. In this scheme, criminal groups insert cocaine into otherwise legitimate shipping containers without the knowledge of the exporting company. Once the cargo arrives at the destination port, members of the criminal network retrieve the drugs before customs detects them.
Investigators found evidence of this technique being used repeatedly in major European ports such as Livorno, Rotterdam, Gioia Tauro, and Le Havre. These ports are well-known hubs for international trade—and increasingly, for the trafficking routes exploited by organized crime groups across continents.
A Collaboration Between ’Ndrangheta, Camorra, and Albanian-Connected Actors
The criminal organization was far from an isolated group. Instead, it was a collaborative, multi-layered structure involving:
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Members of the Locride faction of the ’Ndrangheta, Italy’s most powerful mafia organization
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The Barbaro clan, historically linked to narcotics trafficking
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Individuals connected to the Neapolitan Camorra
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Criminal actors partnering with Albanian trafficking circles
Each group played a specific role in the drug trafficking pipeline. The ’Ndrangheta, with its global network and control over key ports such as Gioia Tauro, provided logistical expertise and international connections. The Barbaro clan managed local operations in Lombardy, while Camorra affiliates contributed financial networks and distribution channels. Albanian-connected suppliers provided the crucial link to Latin America, where the cocaine originated.
This alliance created a powerful and efficient drug pipeline capable of moving large amounts of narcotics with remarkable precision.
28 Arrests and the Collapse of Europe’s “Cocaine Triangle”
The operation culminated with coordinated actions by the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza in Milan and the Central Service for the Investigation of Organized Crime. Twenty-eight individuals were targeted by arrest warrants, with 25 placed in prison and three under house arrest.
Investigators uncovered what they described as a “triangle of criminal cooperation” between Calabria, Lombardy, and Campania. The purpose of this tri-region alliance was to ensure reliable importation of massive quantities of cocaine from South America.
This collaborative structure represents one of the most advanced criminal architectures uncovered in recent years—and its dismantling marks a major victory for European law enforcement.
Impact on Albanian Communities and the Wider Region
For Albanians living in Italy and across Europe, the revelation of Albanian-linked suppliers involved in the network has generated significant attention. While many Albanians abroad contribute positively to society, a small number of highly organized criminal groups have increasingly dominated parts of the narcotics trade. Their involvement in cases of this scale influences public perception and contributes to growing discussions about organized crime, migration, and social integration.
The dismantling of this network highlights both the international reach of such criminal operations and the ongoing cooperation between European authorities to combat them.