A mega-operation between Italian and Albanian police has arrested 12 people, 5 of whom were caught in Albania. They are accused of trafficking cocaine from South America to Italy and Central Europe. Italian media say the investigations began in 2020, while the arrested people are part of the Çela clan from Elbasan.
The Albanian criminal group that was involved in trafficking cocaine from South America to then sell it in Italy and other Central European countries has been dismantled.
The major operation was launched by the Italian authorities, with the cooperation of the Albanian state police, as 5 of the 12 arrested people were caught in Elbasan, Shkodër and Tirana. At the same time, 8 other people are still under investigation. As part of the criminal group, 48-year-old Gerardo Pashja, also known as Astrit Pashja, was also arrested in Spain.
A 28-year-old man has also been declared wanted by the police, who is also wanted for other criminal offenses, in addition to drug trafficking. According to Italian media, investigations into this group began in 2020, after the identification of several cocaine distributors.
And after a few months, in 2021, one of the suspects was caught with 350 kg of cocaine. The drugs were imported from South America via modified vehicles and distributed to Italy and Europe. According to Italian authorities, the criminal group was led by two brothers from the Çela clan of Elbasan, one of the most dangerous Albanian gangs.
They ran trafficking operations, including the importation, distribution of drugs and collection of proceeds, which were sent to Albania via the Brescia-Elbasan bus line. To secure drug supplies, the brothers traveled to Colombia, Ecuador and Dubai, establishing contacts with major cocaine suppliers.
ALBANIANS ARRESTED
Igli Dervishi, 30 years old, resident of Elbasan
Shkëlqim Pashja, 44 years old, resident of Elbasan
Ervin Dema, 40 years old, resident of Elbasan
Edmond Zhuja, 41 years old, resident of Shkodra
Genti Berisha, 28 years old, resident of Tirana
Gerardo alias Astrit Pashja 48 years old (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
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