Thirty-eight Albanian nationals, including police officers, high ranking officials and prosecutors, have been arrested for international drug trafficking, corruption and abuse of office in a mega-operation between Albanian and Italian police, Albanian authorities said.
Arben Kraja, head of Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), told a press conference that the two-year Italian-led investigation operation found that those arrested had operated in Albania, Italy, Montenegro and Spain and belonged to four international criminal groups mainly involved in drug trafficking.
Kraja announced that investigations found the involvement of high ranking public officials, prosecutors, police officers and administrators of the local government in criminal activities.
In his remarks, SPAK Prosecutor Vladimir Mara noted that the four criminal groups were involved in trafficking six tons of narcotic substances, namely cannabis sativa, heroin and cocaine in the direction of Italy worth millions of euros.
Albanian officials served as guarantee for the narcotics to arrive in Italy securely either by land or sea, Mara noted.
"We have also confiscated 11 private properties in the cities of Vlora, Kavaja and Tirana, including land, businesses and restaurants," Mara said.
Ardi Veliu, general director of Albania's State Police, underlined that during this operation, police forces have also confiscated 60 million euros (around 71 million U.S. dollars).
Following the press conference, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Albania Luigi Soreca praised the important operation against organized crime and international drug trafficking.
"Fight against organized crime and money laundering are top priorities for the EU and for Albania on its EU accession path," Soreca tweeted. ■
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