SPAK arrests one person for international dr*g trafficking, the group he led trafficked more than 2.4 tons of narcotics

The Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has announced the arrest of an Albanian citizen, identified by the initials E.B, suspected of being one of the leaders of a structured criminal group involved in international drug trafficking.

Criminal proceeding No. 9 of 2024 was registered on 18.1.2024 for the criminal offenses of “Trafficking in narcotic substances,” committed in cooperation in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by Articles 283/a and 28 point 4 of the Criminal Code; “Structured criminal group,” provided for by Article 333/a of the Criminal Code; as well as “Commission of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and structured criminal group,” provided for by Article 334 of the Criminal Code, with no identified perpetrator.

The investigation was carried out in close cooperation with European judicial authorities, the Criminal Police Department, the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH), as well as with the support of Eurojust and Europol.

Investigations so far have created reasonable suspicion that the criminal group organized the trafficking of narcotic substances from Albania to Montenegro with Germany as the final destination, from Albania to Turkey, and from South American countries to European Union countries.

Part of the communications between the suspected members was obtained through analysis of conversations on the encrypted Sky ECC platform, administered by the French authorities within the framework of international legal assistance.

The investigations have documented three episodes of international drug trafficking:

On November 3, 2020, Montenegrin authorities seized 1,722 kilograms of marijuana, transported from Albania with Germany as its final destination.

On January 26, 2021, Turkish authorities seized 236 kilograms of marijuana, sent from Albania to Turkey.

On November 23, 2020, Dutch authorities seized 475 kilograms of cocaine at the Port of Vlissingen, a shipment that had arrived from Ecuador.

Through the examination and analysis of the collected data, it was initially possible to identify 14 (fourteen) persons under investigation, previously prosecuted for the purposes of this criminal proceeding: I. S., (alias X.,), E. Sh., R. Rr., B. S (alias X), A. N (alias L. S.,), H. S (alias X, alias L.,), V. B., P. Rr., G. Rr., A. A., (alias Ç.,), A. Gj., (alias I.,), A. Q., J. Ç., and M. B., against whom personal security measures have also been imposed, as they are suspected of having been involved in criminal activity related to drug trafficking.

As a result of further investigations, citizen E.B was identified as one of the leaders of the structured criminal group, particularly in relation to the second episode, the trafficking of narcotic substances to Turkey. The Special Prosecution requested that the Special Court of First Instance impose a personal security measure against citizen E.B. By decision No. 51, dated 3.7.2026, the Special Court imposed the security measure of “arrest in prison” against him, provided for by Article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This measure was executed on 6.7.2026 by State Police structures.

As for the person under investigation, E. B., against whom there are reasonable suspicions based on evidence that he committed elements of the criminal offenses of “Trafficking in narcotic substances,” committed in cooperation in the special form of cooperation, that of a structured criminal group, provided for by Articles 283/a and 28 point 4 of the Criminal Code, in connection with Article 334/1 of the Criminal Code, “Commission of criminal offenses by a criminal organization or structured criminal group,” and “Structured criminal group,” provided for by Article 333/a/1 of the Criminal Code.

The investigation continues with the collection of evidence on the involvement of other persons suspected of being part of these illegal criminal activities.

SPAK thanks the Turkish and Ecuadorian judicial authorities, Eurojust and Europol for the support and assistance provided.