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28 arrested in the 'Ndrangheta network, Albanians were the "head" of drug trafficking at the ports

Politiko 2025-07-09 11:39:07

28 arrested in the 'Ndrangheta network, Albanians were the "head"

A joint operation between EUROPOL , Italian and Albanian authorities has led to the arrest of 28 members of the notorious 'Ndrangheta criminal network. The operation took place in Italy, Spain and Albania, and among the detainees are also persons of Albanian nationality.

Among those detained is an Italian citizen from the Calabria region suspected of setting up a criminal structure for the cocaine trade in the San Basilio area of ​​Rome.

This individual, along with his three sons, are suspected of working closely with an Albanian criminal group that handled some of the logistical aspects of the drug trafficking trade. Albanian members of this network are suspected of organizing the extraction of shipments from various Spanish and Dutch ports, as well as the subsequent transport to Italy. In addition, they were responsible for the sale of drugs in other parts of Rome.

Investigations show that the cocaine sold in Italy was purchased in South America and transported in containers to ports across Europe. The transport from the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria to Rome was allegedly facilitated by Calabrian criminal intermediaries.

Torture as a tool to instill fear within the criminal organization

The arrested individuals are suspected of trafficking at least 1,019 kilograms of cocaine and 1,497 kilograms of hashish in 80 trafficking operations. Prosecutors suspect that four Italian individuals kidnapped a drug trafficker, causing him physical and psychological harm - an example of severe violence linked to the 'Ndrangheta criminal organization. The torture was filmed on a mobile phone, with the video then being circulated with the aim of instilling fear, silence and submission in members of the Rome-based criminal group.

This complex investigation also revealed the sophisticated communication methods used to exchange information within the criminal organization. To avoid detection by authorities, its members relied on encrypted messages via devices distributed by an Albanian criminal service provider, who was also arrested on July 8.

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