An illegal waste dump near the port of Antwerp marked the beginning of an international investigation that led to the dismantling of an Albanian-based criminal organization involved in large-scale drug trafficking and armed robberies. 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. An arrest was also made Arezzo.
Drug
Empty packages of cocaine and various tools used to cut cocaine were discovered among the waste at the port of Antwerp drug. Several illegal landfills were then identified with dozens of empty containers of cocaine and heroin, as well as production and packaging materials. The investigation, conducted by the local police of Antwerp in collaboration with the Belgian federal police, had the support of the police forces of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and, for Italy, the provincial commands of carabinieri of Arezzo and Ravenna. Europol coordinated the international activities.
The tens of searchesthe survey and the intervention itself were supported by the network @ONfinanced by the European Commission and led by the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA) Italian.
The criminal organization
The leaders of the criminal organization had already been there condemned in France in 2014 for identical crimes with prison sentences of 10 and 12 years. Other suspects had received sentences of 3 to 7 years, depending on their role. In Belgium, to identify hidden compartments used in cars to contain drugs, specialized personnel from the Antwerp police area and customs were called upon. The searches were supported by various dogs anti-drug from the Canine Support Directorate of the Federal Police. A team of drones provided air assistance.
The investigation conducted by the Antwerp police quickly revealed that a criminal organization was behind these illegal landfills Albanian which dealt with 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. They were found in the vehicles 36,000 euros And 5 kilograms of cocaine and heroin. The organization not only transported and sold drugs, but also collaborated with another Albanian criminal group to rob drug transports by rival clans. This violent gang had an impressive arsenal of Weapons and in the past she had been involved in an assassination attempt (perpetrated by “Aretine” Albanians) of a rival in Albania.
The organization specialized in cutting large quantities of narcotics, from a few kilos to hundreds of kilos, and for this purpose chemical substances were purchased on a large scale, mainly acetone. Several foreign groups were in contact with this organization, since after the cut, drugs were transported to various European countries. Subsequent investigations revealed several suspects linked to each other by family ties, who would deal with the wholesale trade of cocaine. There is also talk of an armed robbery of a transport of a batch of marijuana of 395 kg in mid-February committed in Brussels.
Results of the activities of June 4th
Operations in 5 countries, thanks to intense cooperation with Europol and various foreign police services. Simultaneous searches carried out in the Netherlands, France, Italy and Germany.
– 17 arrests of which 11 in Belgium. 6 suspects were arrested abroad, 2 in Italy who were at the top of the criminal organization.
– They were kidnapped 100 kg of cocaine; 6 firearms (automatic pistols, machine guns and silencers); large sums of cash (approximately 265 thousand euros) also found in cavities and furniture with false bottoms; drug cutting chemicals; police uniforms and bulletproof vests; properties and vehicles with double bottoms; 2 laboratories for refining/processing/extraction of cocaine; 20 cryptophones.
The investigation in Arezzo
In Arezzo the carabinieri of the provincial command, assisted by the personnel of the dog-loving nuclei of Florence and Pesaro, executed a European investigation order issued by the court of Antwerp and validated by the anti-mafia and anti-terrorism district prosecutor at the Court of Florence, tracing and arresting a 33-year-old Albanian, as he was held responsible for the crimes of dealing of narcotic substances. The man was also served with an execution order for imprisonment as he will have to serve a sentence of two years, ten months and six days in prison for drug crimes committed in Civitella in Val di Chiana in 2016. The arrested person is now in prison in Arezzo.
