Italian media have reported the arrest in Tirana of a 45-year-old Albanian man, a high-profile fugitive wanted internationally for drug trafficking. The arrest was carried out during a joint operation between Albanian and Italian authorities.
The suspect had been on the run since 2022 and was considered a senior figure in an international drug trafficking network. According to Italian reports, he was subject to a Red Notice issued by the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, marking him as a priority target for international law enforcement agencies.
Investigations led by the Venice District Prosecutor’s Office between 2019 and 2021, supported by the Flying Squad, linked him to a criminal organization operating in the Veneto region. Italian authorities described him as a key member involved in the importation and distribution of cocaine, which was later supplied to drug dealers across the region.
He was ultimately convicted by the Venice Court of Appeal for conspiracy to traffic narcotics and drug trafficking offenses. The court identified him as a leading figure within the network operating in Venice, with operational control over supply channels and distribution activities across the lagoon area.
According to the investigation files, the man initially resided in Mestre before relocating to Dubai, where he is believed to have continued coordinating activities of the criminal network. Authorities considered him the operational head and decision-maker of the organization, responsible for managing cocaine supply routes and overseeing its distribution network in northern Italy.
His capture was made possible with the support of Italy’s SCO unit, as part of the “Wanted” project focused on tracking and arresting high-profile fugitives both in Italy and abroad. The operation was activated after his return from Dubai, leading to his arrest in Tirana.