1100 Belgian police officers mobilized: Albanian cocaine network destroyed, 80 tonnes

The operation mobilised over 1,100 Belgian police officers and ended with the arrest of 64 people.

The criminal network imported cocaine from Colombia across the sea with containers or private ships, and after unloading and repacking it to Belgium, it was then distributed further to Italy, Germany, Sweden, France, Holland, and Portugal.

Specialized mobile applications, such as Encrochat and Sky ECC, were used with the idea that they were protected from wiretaps.

With regard to seizures, there are nearly 80 tons of cocaine seized on Belgian territory. Market value amounts to nearly $5 billion. There are, then, an arsenal of money cleared in luxury clock cars and about 1m euros in cash ready”, federal police officer Eric Snoeck said.

The operation in Brussels concludes a 1,365-day investigation.

Belgian police leaders said there is no doubt that Belgium has returned to a country where the world-level mafia and criminal organisations operate.

A record 65 tonnes of cocaine from countries of origin such as Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador were confiscated in the Belgian port of Antwerp in 2020. /Time News/