Colleagues of Albanian drug lord arrested in Italy

An Italian police operation has led to the arrest of 11 people, part of a criminal gang linked to Elvis Demçe.

According to foreign media , the Rome Court has issued 14 arrest warrants, but only 11 of them were executed. The other three people are reportedly wanted, writes A2 CNN.

The suspects are accused of collaborating in drug trafficking. The investigations launched in January 2022 led to the dismantling of a criminal organization attributed to Elvis Demçe, the "Drug Lord", an Albanian national considered a central figure in the management of drug trafficking between Lazio and Calabria.

Demçe, sentenced in December 2022 to 18 years in prison for drug trafficking, is accused of being the leader of a criminal group capable of managing large quantities of drugs and controlling territory through the systematic use of intimidation and violence.

Today's investigation focused on Demce's closest associates, who remained in the shadows during the initial stages of the investigation. Through wiretaps, analysis of encrypted conversations, and field investigations, investigators were able to determine the roles and responsibilities of each member.

Between May 2020 and March 2021, the group is suspected of transporting 338 kg of cocaine, 1,510 kg of hashish and 70 kg of marijuana, with the provinces of Rome and Latina as the main distribution areas. Some of those arrested from Calabria are suspected of acting as the main logistical hubs in the trafficking chain.

In addition to drug trafficking, the investigation has uncovered three episodes of extortion, violence, and threats aimed at recovering debts from drug sales.

In one case, members of the criminal group allegedly set fire to a betting shop in Rome and threatened the owner, forcing him to pay over 80,000 euros. In a second episode, a buyer was allegedly intimidated into extorting 108,000 euros. In a third, a person was allegedly kidnapped and taken to a pine forest, where a gun was held to his head to force him to hand over 50,000 euros. (A2 Televizion)