They are particular brutal among themselves, like the Italians in the 80s, but they are more spread throughout Europe.


The Çopja family has been in a bloody feud with another criminal clan from Albania since at least 2012, which has already claimed dozens of victims, mainly in Western Europe.

This is a clan that originates from the city of Elbasan, southeast of the capital Tirana. The deputy director of a prison in that city and a former judge from Elbasan are also among the suspects.

Franc Çopja was extradited from Dubai to Belgium in 2023. In Belgium, he is suspected of, among other things, ordering the liquidation of Ardit Spahiu in Brussels-Molenbeek on 28 November 2020, and two other murders in Belgium.