SPAK destroys Albanian network that trafficked 6 tonnes of cocaine to the EU

Part of this group results from businessman Ermir Ndreaj, known as “Cinco”, as well as two Brothers Klavis and Arthur Hojosman, along with Ilir Llyoshi. The action details are clarified in the SPAK's official response.

Full announcement:

SPAK hits an international drug ring over 6 tonnes of seized narcotics worth a market of 411m euros, 16 people under investigation

The Special Prosecutor against Corruption and Organised Crime (Possacous Prosecutor) has decided on the 1505.2024 verdict to separate acts from criminal prosecution no. 184/1 of 2021 and record of criminal proceedings No. 184/3 of 2024, against 9 (nine) suspected citizens: P. D., J. M., B. P., A. (Alias K., allis E.,) N., E. S., B. H., and J. P., for the criminal acts of “Narcotics Trafficking” (enni 283/a/1 and Article 28/4), “structured criminal group” (nenni 333/a), and “the chairman of criminal acts by the structured criminal group” (en 334) of the Penal Code.

Following the investigation, during July 2025, other persons have been identified and included in the proceedings: A. H., K.H., E.N., E. A., P.D. and I. Lee, who are allegedly involved in several episodes of drug trafficking. These citizens are also suspected of the same criminal acts under a structured criminal group.

These investigations have been carried out in co-operation with European justice authorities, the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as during the execution phase with the state police investigation facilities.

The Special Prosecutor has applied for the appointment of a personal security measure to 7 (seven) persons in the investigation, which was approved by the First Century Special Court for Corruption and Organised Crime (The Special Court) with the No. 77, 2507.2025, placing a prison arrest measure “ ”, based on Article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The decision was immediately executed in co-operation with state police structures. By 2507.2025, the arrest of six persons in the investigation was made possible:

A. H.
K. H.
E.N.
E. A.
P. D.
I. Lee.
During the execution of the security measure, in the residence of citizens A. H. Three pistol guns, held without permission, were found and seized.

One of the suspects, citizen D. P. (alias D. B., allis E. S.), has been declared on the run, and is working on his location and capture in collaboration with the State Police and international partners. For the interests of the investigation, the Special Prosecution has requested and received approval of the Special Court for conducting checks in residences, vehicles and persons.

To this moment, 5 decisions of the Special Court have been executed, and numerous checks have been conducted, among other things, the following items and materials:

Total monetary sum:
Euro: 43.470
Swiss franc: 5,000 CHF
Tools:
3 vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz AMG G63, a Volkswagen Golf 7a, and a Volkswagen Sharan.
Floating tool:
1 luxury boat of brand “Hul Works Sarock 40”, production of 2025, registered on behalf of a trade subject.
Firearm:
Three pistols, with combs and bullets.
Time of luxury:
1 hour Rolex, model 126613 LN
1 hour Richard Mille, model McLaren RM50-0368
Mobile Phones:
16 mobile phones, mostly of iPhone brand and Samsung, some with SIM cards active.
Bank cards and financial documents:
19 international bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), issued on behalf of people under investigation.
Bank documents and financial transactions with accounts in the United Emirates, Germany, Italy and Panama.
Electronic device:
1 mark drop DJ Mavic 2 Enterprises, with all the relevant accessors.
8 Hikvision hard drive, with capacity of 6TB each.
1 NVR Hikvision.
2 Baofeng radio communication.
Identification and property documentation:
License and ID from the authorities of Albania, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom.
Flight permits and navigation documents for vessels.
Property certificates, notary documents, trading contracts and property statements.
Etj.
Drug Traffic Episodes

Based on investigative information collected by the Special Prosecutor, the activity of this structured criminal group for international trafficking of narcotics has been concreteised through a series of episodes conducted mainly during the 2020,2021 period in several European Union states and the United Kingdom.

Episodes of cocaine sequencing

Spain February 2020
Decuested 400 kilos.
Belgium April 2020
Secuested 989.1kg.
Canal (French United Kingdom) April 2020
Secuested 250kg in a shipment of British destination.
Netherlands June 2020
Dequaested over 2,000 kilos of cocaine. The market value of this amount is estimated at over 151m euros (Burill: https://www.ad.nnl/rotterdam/douandt-2020-kilo-Caine-een-waarde-van-ruim-151-euro-tusen-banan)
Netherlands October 2020
Decuested 1484.07 kilos.
Episodes of hashishing

Rimini, Italy, July 2020
cuzed 275 kilos.
grass, Italy March 2021
Decuested 400 kilos.
Algeciras, Spain émars-September 2020
Secuested about 1442kg, where 170kg were allegedly on behalf of the investigators.

Other Episodes

France February 2020
A vehicle and 72,000 euros of tea were seized.
Modes Operadi

This structured criminal group operated through a sophisticated organisation mainly in cocaine trafficking from Latin America towards some European Union countries, as well as in Great Britain. Narcotics came mainly from Santa Marta (Collumb), or Ecuador, and were transported with shipping containers to large ports such as Anvers (Belgium), Rotterdam (Holand), or land routes to France, and through Canal (Channel Tunnel) to the United Kingdom. In some cases, cargo was also downloaded to ports in Italy and Spain.

According to prosecutors in the case, Mr. Eric Doman and Mr. Adnan Jolie:

“The organisational structure of this criminal group, extending to several continents and with 16 members identified so far, testifies to the high level of protection of Albanian criminal groups, their capabilities and expansion in international criminal markets. ”

Drug transport was characterized by sophisticated methods of hiding and a well - organized international logistics. Various ways of hiding drugs were used, such as hiding in wooden gyms (Belgium, France), banana boxes (Holand) and bags of cacao beans (Rotterdam), masquerading it as commercial merchandise to avoid customs control.

The group's organisation was hierarchical and divided into specialized roles. At the helm of this criminal group stood the directors and sponsors, who not only ordered and financed shipments of drugs, but also co-ordinated roads, contact points and logistical operations. They were the identities, investors and guarantors of operations, linking the drug source in Latin America to European markets through a sophisticated chain of mediation. Most of them lived among European Union countries, Great Britain and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.

Contributors took action against them, providing logistics and transportation. These persons found legitimate export or transport companies, contracted drivers often Romanian nationals and prepared cargo by masking them with legitimate goods as timber or cocoa. They passed through tons of narcotics to the ports of Belgium, Holland, or land crossings to France and the United Kingdom.

On the ground, in destination countries, another link to the distribution group worked. These included those who expected the quantities of drugs, provided delivery, and distributed narcotics according to local orders. These were the executive arm of the network in Great Britain and Western Europe.

At the origin of the cargo in Latin - American lands, unidentified people who served as contact points remained. They were responsible for providing, monitoring and sending drugs towards European ports.

Everything was kept in check through encrypted communication, Sky application/ ECC. Users were covered by nicknames and PIN codes, which guaranteed anonymity and evasion. Communications included delivery plans, customs check warnings, and response instructions in case of confirmation. On occasion, phones were hidden, destroyed, or thrown to leave no trace.

In terms of making payments, the group had implemented a sophisticated method of avoiding the traditional banking system: the Hawaii informal payment system. This mechanism enabled the transfer of large sums of money among various countries without passing through formal financial channels, thus avoiding official transaction tracks. This form of payment was used to conceal the origin and destination of income from drug trafficking. Verification of the sums was done through encrypted bills, with nicknames marked, payment sums and specific dates that functioned as “token” to ensure that the sum is drawn correctly to the point.

This criminal group also had access to customs infrastructure through connections with individuals involved in ports or control agencies in various European Union countries. Communication clearly reveals that providing collaboration with customs or port personnel was seen by the leaders of this criminal group as a crucial factor in the success of their narcotics trafficking.

International Co-operation

In this important investigation, SPAAK has had excellent co-ordination and co-operation with EUROOPOL, EUROJUST, Latin American law enforcement agencies, British partner agencies and EU countries' legal agencies and more specifically with countries such as France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia. A very qualitative co-ordination has been shared with local law enforcement agencies.

Prosecutors of the case, Mr. Eric Doman and Mr. Adnan Jolie, note that:

“This successful SPAK-led investigation is a direct result of close inter-institational and international co-operation, especially with EUROOPOL, EUROJUST, agencies of EU member states, as well as joint law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, who provided support through a deepening analysis of data and implementation of an effective international police co-ordination. The value of material discovered through the analysis of Sky-descripted communications data The ECC has been essential to complete evidence collected during the investigation and remains valid for achieving relevant investigative results. This information has been essential in identifying serious criminal acts, suspects, as well as determining their role in this structured criminal group. ”