Arezzo, 7 June 2024 – Una illegal waste dump in the vicinity of the port of Antwerp 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 packaging empty 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 Holland and Switzerland during the investigation phases.
The investigation was conducted by the Belgian local police of Antwerp in collaboration with the Belgian federal police and the police forces of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy cwith the Provincial Commands of the Carabinieri of Arezzo and Ravenna. Europol coordinated the international activities.
The dozens of searches carried out on the orders of the investigating judge of Antwerp are the result of 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 sentences 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, to identify hidden compartments used to contain drugs, specialized personnel from the Antwerp police area and customs were called upon. 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 an Albanian criminal organization was behind these illegal landfills. 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 also collaborated with another Albanian criminal group to rob drug transports of rival clans.
This violent gang had an impressive arsenal of firearms at its disposal and had in the past been involved in an assassination attempt (perpetrated by “Aretino” 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 the cut, 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 were said to be involved in the wholesale trade of cocaine.
There is also talk of an armed robbery of a shipment of a 395 kg consignment of marijuana in mid-February committed in Brussels. Results of the activities of 4 June – Operations in 5 countries, thanks to intense 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.
Six suspects were arrested abroad, including two in Italy who were at the top of the criminal organization. – The following were seized: a) 100 kg of cocaine; b) 6 firearms (automatic pistols, machine guns and silencers); c) large sums of cash (approximately 265,000 Euros) also found in cavities and furniture with false bottoms; d) drug cutting chemicals; e) police uniforms and bulletproof vests; f) properties and vehicles with double bottoms; g) 2 laboratories for the refining/processing/extraction of cocaine; h) 20 cryptophones.
In Arezzo, the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command, assisted by the staff 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 Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism District 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.
The arrested person, in the same operational context, was also notified of an execution order for imprisonment, issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Arezzo, as he will have to serve a sentence of two years, ten months and six days of imprisonment, for crimes in relation to drugs committed in Civitella Val di Chiana in 2016. The arrested person was taken to prison in Arezzo.
