The mega-operation against organized crime/SPAK gives details of the action

2024-11-26 12:19:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), in cooperation with Eurojust, Europol, the justice authorities of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ecuador, has documented and prosecuted a well-structured criminal organization in the international cocaine traffic, based in the city of Elbasan and extending to the countries of the European Union and Latin America. This investigation based on encrypted SKY/ECC communications and other investigative actions also continues to document criminal activity for other persons.

At the request of the Special Prosecutor's Office, the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime has set security measures for 21 people:

Jail terms for 18 individuals, including ringleaders, a former senior police official and a former judge.

House arrest for 1 lawyer.

Obligation to appear for 2 journalists.

Structure of the Organization

This criminal organization, in its focus, had the control of the territory, mainly in Central Albania, using various mechanisms as well as continuous violence against rival criminal groups.

The criminal organization led by S.Ç. in order to control the territory, the main goal was the physical elimination of the members of another structured criminal group which operated in the city of Elbasan and which was considered as an opponent of the criminal organization led by S.Ç.

The entire activity was financed by the money that was profited from the criminal activity of drug trafficking from Latin America to countries such as; Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.

During the investigation of this criminal proceeding no. 193/2023, the following criminal facts were documented:

Attempted murder by sniper to the detriment of the citizen, A.Ç., on 08.06.2020 in the city of Elbasan

Ensuring the conditions and material means for committing murder to the detriment of the citizen BM, March 2020;

Ensuring the conditions and material means for committing murder to the detriment of EC citizens, in 2020.

Attempted trafficking of approximately 930 kg of the narcotic substance, a type of cocaine, from Ecuador to Europe in December 2020.

Attempted trafficking of 466 kg of narcotic substance, cocaine type from Ecuador to the Netherlands, in January 2021.

Exercising influence through corrupt acts in certain segments of the justice system, the state police and the media.

The citizen ML (alias S.Ç.) has been identified as the head of the organization, responsible for managing and coordinating criminal activities, including murders, international drug trafficking, committing corrupt acts and organizing money laundering schemes. Meanwhile, some of the members with key roles such as; M.Ç., AV, B.SH, KM, Xh.R., etc. were an operative part of the organization, engaged in the planning and execution of serious criminal offenses, including premeditated murder and drug trafficking.

The role of other persons

The organization had succeeded in corrupting officials of the state police (D.GJ.) and the judicial system (PF) who, using their official position, helped the organization with information, also offering facilities and influence in the judicial system in exchange for favors and material benefits. The criminal organization had the ability to influence and corrupt representatives of the justice system in order for the latter to ease the position of the head of S.Ç. and other members of the organization in criminal proceedings under their charge. To be emphasized is the ability of the organization to influence the judicial body in order to aggravate the position or the measure of punishment that would be given to the members of the criminal group who were considered as their opponents.

ML has aimed to manipulate public perception, portraying its rivals as untouchable because of their alleged links to politics. The push for property investigations within the OFL and the encouragement of the media to obtain testimony from individuals who could incriminate his rivals would, according to him, create in the public opinion the perception that these rivals, due to suspected political connections, have become "untouchable". This strategy, which involves manipulating information and influencing public opinion, would not only increase his positions, but at the same time would harm the interests of his rivals.

It is suspected that he achieved these goals through cooperation with journalists AH and EQ, who, against illegal monetary benefits, have taken positions in the media, as well as published articles and videos that misinformed and manipulated public opinion.

International cocaine trafficking network

The organization has implemented a complex closed scheme of cocaine trafficking from Latin America to European countries by joining various criminal groups with strong ties in Latin America. The organization ordered the narcotics from organized Albanian criminal groups linked to local criminal groups in Latin America.

Then, the amount of narcotics was transported hidden in legal products and transited to several European ports destined for countries such as; Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands, from where it was extracted, trafficked and wholesaled by members of the organization to the European narcotics market. Most of the cargo moved in containers in large ports such as Antwerp, Rotterdam, etc., which often served as key points for its traffic in the European market. There have also been attempts to transport narcotics through the airports of Belgium and the Netherlands.

A part of the income from this criminal activity was invested:

a. In the purchase of narcotics

b. Cash available in Albania

c. In seemingly regular businesses

d. To support the operational infrastructure of the organization and buy influence in specific segments of the justice system, police, media and business

For this operation we thank Europol, Eurojust, the justice and law enforcement authorities of; France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Italian authorities (Ufficio del' Esperto per la Sicurezza a Tirana, Squadra Mobile di Milano).

Clarification: Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final decision.

Note to reporters:

Insurance measures are provided for the following persons:

ML alias S.Ç – 36 years old, resident in Elbasan

M.Ç – 35 years old, resident of Elbasan

XH.R – 33 years old, resident in Tirana

KM alias K.Ç alias K.Ç – 37, resident in Elbasan

SH – 30 years old, resident in Elbasan

BH – 34 years old, resident in Elbasan

LZ – 33 years old, resident of Elbasan

MR – 37 years old, resident in Tirana

A.Xh, alias EC, AC – 39 years old, resident in Tirana

KP – 48 years old, resident of Malesia e Madhe

FV – 48 years old, resident of Elbasan

MM – 27 years old, resident of Elbasan

RH – 35 years old, resident of Elbasan

SS – 34 years old, resident in Tirana

AH – 50 years old, resident in Tirana

EQ – 39 years old, resident in Tirana

PF – 65 years old, resident in Elbasan

D.Gj - 48 years old, resident in Tirana

M.Sh, alias B.Sh - 51 years old, resident in Tirana

HL alias HX alias HS – 40 years old, resident in Tirana

BB – 39 years old, resident in Elbasan

Suspected criminal offences:

"Premeditated murder", remaining in the attempt, to the detriment of A.Ç, event that occurred on 06.08.2020;

"Providing the conditions and material means to commit murder to the detriment of EK and BM

"Unauthorized possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition", carried out in a special form of cooperation, that of the criminal organization, "Criminal organization" and "Commitment of criminal offenses by criminal organization and structured criminal group".

"Trafficking of narcotics", carried out in a special form of cooperation that of the structured criminal group".

"Structured criminal group".

"Active corruption of the judge, prosecutor and other justice officials".

"Active corruption in the private sector", carried out in cooperation.

"Abuse of duty".

"Cleaning of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity" ./ CNA