A series of raids performed 7 to 8 August 2025 in Albania saw the arrest of 10 suspected members of an Albanian organised crime network engaged in multi-tonne cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Albanian law enforcement, in coordination with their colleagues from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, executed this Europol-supported hit against the clan-based criminal network. Investigations have shown the network to have ties with other international high-risk poly-criminal organisations active across the EU and beyond. Following the arrest of a key member of the organisation by Albanian authorities at the end of June 2025, the searches also led to the seizure of substantial assets, including a hotel, various properties and businesses, and a trove of physical and digital evidence.
The 15 search warrants performed led to:
- 10 arrests
- Seizure of real estate such as a tourist resort, villas, apartments, land plots as well as vehicles and shares in companies valued at several million euros
- Seizure of EUR 111 800, USD 4 000 (around EUR 3 434), Albanian Lek 880 000 (around EUR 9 048) in cash
Seizure of Sky ECC encrypted communication platform yields results since 2021
Even though the Sky ECC encrypted communication platform was taken down over four years ago, its content still brings forward operational results. In-depth and targeted data analysis at Europol allows the cooperating law enforcement authorities to collect actionable information on high-level organised criminal groups and their members. This coordinated approach allows investigators to map out the structure of the high-risk criminal networks and the role of individual High Value Targets.
A data-driven success
This particular operation led by the Albanian SPAK revolved around a top-level Albanian target involved in cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Investigators from Albania, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands together with Europol experts analysed encrypted Sky ECC communication data. Among the criminal episodes reconstructed were multi-tonne deliveries of cocaine trafficked from Latin America to the main ports of the EU, including Hamburg and Rotterdam. Investigations have shown that in just one of these shipments, the main target received more than USD 40 million for his cut.
The criminal organisation’s leader was in charge of arranging shipments and investing into very large quantities of cocaine. He coordinated these massive criminal undertakings also from remote locations, relying on encrypted means of communication. Prior to his arrest, he was wanted following a decision by an Albanian court recognising a 21-year prison sentence issued by an Italian court for murder, deprivation of liberty, attempted hiding of a corpse, threats, illegal possession of explosives and ammunition as well as obstruction of justice.
The Albanian organised criminal network under investigation operated with a truly global scope, as it cooperated with other groups that could facilitate transports to EU harbours. It invested its massive earnings, which reached dozens of millions of euros, in properties and businesses across Albania and other European countries.
Europol’s expertise at work
Europol provided broad-ranging expertise on the criminal areas under investigation, covering organised crime structures, large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering. Based on large-data analysis, numerous intelligence and analytical reports were disseminated by Europol to the cooperating partners, who also met and exchanged information in several operational meetings. During the action day, Europol deployed an organised crime expert to Tirana, Albania, who provided support with a mobile office and facilitated international law enforcement cooperation.
Participating countries:
- Albania: Special Prosecution Office for Anticorruption and Organised Crime (SPAK); National Bureau of Investigation (Byroja Kombëtare e Hetimit); State Police (Policia e Shtetit)
- Belgium: Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie)
- France: National Police (Police Nationale)
- Germany: Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt); State Criminal Police Office Baden-Württemberg (Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg / GER Karlsruhe)
- Netherlands: Police (Politie)
- Italy: National Police (Polizia di Stato); Servizio per la Cooperazione Internazionale di Polizia (SCIP)
