Operation 12 arrested in Italy and Albania, Antimafia details: Three cells leading Albanians, fingerprints betrayed them

A fingerprint left at the scene allowed Carabinieri of the Borgo San Lorenzo Company to destroy a vast international drug trafficking network. The operation, co-ordinated by the Anti-Mafia Directorate of Florence (DDA) and lasting between 2020 and 2023, led to the release of 12 detention orders and 20 checks, action that State Police published yesterday information on the operation “Fingerprit” The finger hook.

One of the members of the organisation, wanted by Italy as part of the file, was detained at Port of Fier. He's Eddie Hoxha, allias Edison Hoxha, 41. Italian media have also published details from the operation in the neighbouring country and investigations conducted. Among those arrested was one woman as the organisation under investigation consisted of 3 cells, where Albanians were in charge.

The operation took place simultaneously in 10 Italian provinces, with the support of more than 100 anti-drug workers and units. The investigation, which began in Mugelo, uncovered operations of three distinct criminal groups with transnational consequences.

During the investigation, a total of about 2kg of cocaine, 22kg of marijuana and half kilograms of hashish were seized. Four others were also arrested during the operation.

Three groups and their illegal business

According to investigators' reconstructions, organisations were operating on multiple fronts:

A group of Albanian citizens specialised in importing cocaine from the Netherlands and then distributing it in Italy.

Another criminal cell was involved in exporting cocaine from Florence to Switzerland, where it sold retail along with hashish and marijuana. Drug trafficking was conducted both in the Zurich canton and in several provinces in Toscana.

-The second organisation, born from a branch of the first, was entirely Albanian, including a woman, and managed to import large quantities of cannabis from Switzerland for the Italian market.

Today's operation resulted in the arrest of 12 people, one of whom was in Albania due to an international arrest warrant issued. Remaining arrests and raids were conducted in Florence, nine other Italian provinces. /Periscopi/