The organization of Albanians in Europe is attacked, 17 arrested, 700 thousand euros seized

17 Albanians were arrested as part of an operation carried out by the German and Belgian authorities on May 25.

 Europol says it supported the operation against an organized crime group involved in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering across Europe.

On May 25, over 300 officers, including special intervention teams and K9 teams, conducted a series of simultaneous raids in both countries on members of this family-based criminal group, made up mostly of dual Albanian/Albanian nationals .

Actions were coordinated from a command center located in Brussels, Belgium, with Europol officers stationed on the ground.

Action day results

26 property searches (21 in Belgium, 5 in Germany)

17 arrests (15 in Belgium, 2 in Germany)

Seizures include:

An indoor cannabis plantation

15 kilograms of cannabis

3 kilograms of synthetic drugs and 3 kilograms of cocaine

13 vehicles, most equipped with professional hidden compartments

3 firearms

Over 700,000 euros in cash

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The targeted criminal organization specialized in the trafficking of heroin and cocaine.

Investigators found the drugs were being smuggled in containers in Belgium, before being transferred to Germany in vehicles fitted with sophisticated hidden compartments. The drug was then distributed throughout Europe.

Several hundreds of thousands of euros in cash were seized during the investigation.

Europol supported this investigation by providing tailored expertise and extensive analytical support and by facilitating the exchange of information through its secure channels. A series of operational meetings were organized by Europol throughout Europe in order to fill the investigative gaps at the international level and to coordinate simultaneous actions aimed at dismantling the entire structure of this criminal group.

The following authorities participated in the investigation:

  Germany: German police in Bielefeld and Paderborn

   Belgium: The Federal Judicial Police in Brussels and the Brussels Office of the Court and Investigative Prosecutor