11 minutes agoEuropol: Albanians dominate cocaine market, have direct ties to Latin America
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)The Albanian and Western Balkan gangs have become particularly prominent in buying large quantities of cocaine in Latin America, reportedly the latest Europol report, along with the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs. The report highlights that Albanian groups operate autonomously to order drugs and [...]
The report highlights that Albanian groups operate autonomously to order drugs and have direct links with producers.
“Starting in 2012, Albanian-speaking groups have influence in the main ports of both South America and Europe (initially Belgium and the Netherlands and then in Germany and Spain), and are also engaged in distribution in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and even Australia”, the report says.
According to Europol, criminal gangs use cities and ports like Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp (Belgium), Valencia and Algeciras (Spanja) for expecting cocaine quantities.
According to this report from 2018 to 2020, 266 people of Albanian nationality have been arrested for cocaine trafficking. Next, Brazilian citizens, Colombians or Nigerians rank.
“Since 2010, Italy, Germany and Belgium have identified Albanians among the first ten nationalities in official contact with police for cocaine”, the report said.
In addition to Albanian gangs, Moroccan gangs and the Ndangheta group in Italy are also mentioned for cocaine trafficking.
After cannabis, cocaine is now the second most popular drug in Western and Central Europe.
Recent estimates suggest that last year there have been around 4.4 million users.
Nearly 40% of the criminal groups active in Europe are involved in drug trafficking, and the cocaine trade generates billions of euros of criminal profits.
