Albania dismantles massive drug network

Albania dismantles massive drug network

Experts say that a police operation performed in co-operation with Germany demonstrates Albania's capacity to identify and lead major operations against organised crime groups.

Albanian police officers search a drug laboratory in the village of Xibrake, near Elbasan, on January 15th. [AFP]

Albanian authorities have dismantled a drug trafficking network that started in Colombia, ended in Albania and was responsible for channelling drugs throughout Europe. The lab, which processed cocaine and other drugs, is considered the biggest and most modern in the Balkans and was found in a village called Xibrake, in Elbasan, a town close to Tirana.

At least 121 kilos of drugs were seized and 11 persons detained, including Ermal Hoxha, the nephew of the late dictator Enver Hoxha, and two Colombian citizens. Weapons and large amounts of currency were also confiscated. The criminal group was channelling huge amounts of money into construction businesses. The lab was built in a former storehouse.

"It is a structured group that traffics narcotics from Latin America to the Balkans, with Western Europe as a destination," Albanian state police said.

German authorities co-operated for months with Albanian authorities to intercept the group. The police operation code named Xibraka was conducted in co-operation with INTERPOL, EUROPOL and the German police.

"This is an operation that also shows the close co-operation between state police and international partners, between the state police and the police of the countries in the region," said Albanian Minister of Interior Sajmir Tahiri.

Experts praised the fact that the Albanian police force demonstrated that it is capable of playing...