Anti-drug operation across Europe: 16 people part of a criminal gang arrested

An illegal waste dump near the port of Antwerp (Belgium) marked the beginning of a cross-border investigation that ultimately led to the dismantling of an Albanian-based transnational criminal organization involved in large-scale drug trafficking and armed robberies.

While searching through the waste, they discovered empty packages of cocaine and various effects used to cut the drug. Since this initial discovery, several illegal landfills have been found containing dozens of empty packages of cocaine and heroin, as well as production and packaging materials.
In total, 17 suspects were arrested as a result of a coordinated operation on June 4 between Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Two other members of the gang had already been arrested in the Netherlands and Switzerland during the investigation phases.

The investigation was conducted by the Belgian local police in Antwerp in collaboration with the Belgian Federal Police and the Police Forces of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and for Italy with the Provincial Commands of the Carabinieri of Arezzo and Ravenna. Europol coordinated the international activities.
The dozens of searches carried out on behalf of the Antwerp investigating judge are the result of one intensive collaboration with Europol and various foreign police forces. These took place in Belgium, but also in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Austria. The investigation and the intervention itself were supported by the @ON network, financed by the European Commission and led by the Italian Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA).

The operation in question therefore underlines the importance of national and international collaboration in the fight against organized crime. It demonstrates the authorities' determination to dismantle criminal networks and ensure the safety of the city and the region.

That the organisation's suspects are no strangers to these activities is evident from the fact that the leaders have already been convicted in France in 2014 for identical crimes with prison terms of 10 and 12 years.

Other suspects in the organization received sentences of 3 to 7 years, depending on their role in the case.

In Belgium, this has been done to identify hidden compartments used to contain drugs use of specialized personnel from the Antwerp police area and customs. The searches were supported by various drug-sniffing dogs from the canine support directorate of the Federal Police and the Antwerp police area. The drone team from the Antwerp Police Area provided air support.
The investigation conducted by the Antwerp police quickly revealed that behind these illegal landfills there was an Albanian criminal organization. This organization was involved in the import and export of cocaine and heroin to various European countries, using vehicles equipped with double bottoms. During the investigations, 2 of the association's transporters had already been arrested in the Netherlands and Switzerland. 36.000 euros and 5 kilograms of cocaine and heroin were found in the vehicles, equipped with hidden compartments.

The investigation revealed that the organization not only transported and sold drugs, but he also collaborated with another Albanian criminal group to rob drug transports of rival clans.

This violent gang had a impressive arsenal of firearms and had previously been involved in an assassination attempt (perpetrated by the “Aretine” Albanians) of a rival in Albania.
The organization would specialize in cutting large quantities of narcotics, from a few kilos to hundreds of kilos and for this purpose, chemicals, mainly acetone, were purchased on a large scale. Several foreign groups were in contact with this organization, since after cutting, the drugs were transported to various European countries in vehicles with hidden double-bottom compartments.
Subsequent investigations revealed several suspects linked to each other by family ties, who are said to be involved in the wholesale trade of cocaine. There is also talk of one armed robbery of a shipment of a 395 kg consignment of marijuana in mid-February committed in Brussels.

Results of the activities of June 4th

Operations in 5 countries, thanks to intensive cooperation with EUROPOL and various foreign police services, simultaneous searches were carried out in the Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany. 17 arrests of which 11 in Belgium. Abroad, 6 suspects were arrested, including 2 in Italy who were at the top of the criminal organization.

The following were seized:

100 kg of cocaine; ⁠6 firearms (automatic pistols, machine guns and silencers); large sums of cash (265.000 Euro approximately) also found in cavities and furniture with double bottoms; drug cutting chemicals; police uniforms and bulletproof vests; properties and vehicles with double bottoms; 2 laboratories for the refining/processing/extraction of cocaine; 20 cryptophones.

Ad Arezzo, the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command, assisted by the personnel of the CC Dog Units of Florence and Pesaro, executed a European investigation order issued by the Court of Antwerp (Belgium) and validated with a recognition decree issued by the District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Florence, tracking down and arresting a thirty-three year old Albanian, as he was held responsible for drug dealing crimes.

A Faenza (RA) the Carabinieri of the Operational Department of the Provincial Command of Ravenna and of the CC Company of Faenza, supported by an Operational Support Team of the 5th Carabinieri Regiment "Emilia Romagna" of Bologna, a dog unit of the GdF and two observers of the Belgian Federal Police, they identified and arrested a 42-year-old man of Albanian origin, believed to be at the top of the criminal organization. During the house search, the officers seized telephones and cash. Subsequent developments also revealed that the man, known by different names, had a prison order issued by the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Appeal of Florence pending against him because he had been found guilty of criminal association aimed at international drug trafficking, for which he will still have to serve serve a residual sentence of 2 years, 7 months and 11 days of imprisonment.

At the end of the operation, the arrested man was taken to the Ravenna prison.

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