Funded by Albanians in Dubai, Europol hits Colombia cocaine network

According to Europol, Albanians are accused of acting as investors, providing the finances needed to pay producers for cocaine shipments from Colombia or Ecuador, with the destination of Europe's shores.

The organisation is accused of trafficking through funding 7.2 tonnes of cocaine that has been seized. Also seized are 6.5m euros in cash, 1.5m euros in gold or gold jewelry and jewelry, 48 weapons and luxury cars.

EUROPOL NJOFT:

The Europol-backed Spanish Civil Guard has dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking network in an investigation involving Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama. The suspects were allegedly involved in the widespread takeover and distribution of cocaine across the EU, as well as in money laundering. The shock was co-ordinated by the Europol Task Force.

The investigation, launched in June 2022, uncovered this drug trafficking ring operating on three continents. Members of the network -- citizens from Albania, Bulgaria, Colombia and Spain -- organised trafficking in large quantities of cocaine from the country of origin in Europe. Each took on different roles within the logistics chain.

Colombian citizens handled remittances from Colombia to Europe, while Bulgarian, Colombian and Spanish citizens supervised further drug seizures and distribution. Rescue teams were hidden in a container to sneak into the harbor and with the help of corrupt workers released cocaine overnight.

Other Albanian members, based in Dubai, acted as investors they secured the finances needed to pay the producers for remittances from Colombia. Network members also laundered income from their crimes. Intelligence suggests the criminal network had the capacity to get up to a ton of cocaine per week. The shipments were carried out through air cargo and shipping containers. In October 2024, authorities seized 4.1 tonnes of cocaine in Panama, with Spain's destination in connection with the network. The network is allegedly linked to cocaine seizures reaching over seven tonnes. Also, law enforcement authorities have seized two tonnes of cocaine in Spain since the beginning of the investigation.

Action results, conducted in three phases, between December 2024 and January 2025

22 arrests in Spain (Spanish and Colombian states);
27 house raids in Barcelona, Cádiz, Madrid, Malaga, and Valencia;
The seizures include about 1 tonnes of cocaine and 5kg of recompenses '%s' (Rose Army), 35 vehicles, including 8 luxury cars (values around 2.5m euros), luxury clocks and jewelry (values around 1.5m euros) and 6.5m euros per pers;
48 guns;
53 bank accounts frozen. /A2 CNN