SPAK's mega-operation/ Tons of cocaine headed to Bari, 4.5 million euros were brought into Albania by buses

A major international anti-drug operation, dubbed "URA", began at dawn, leading to the arrest of 52 people between Albania and Italy, as well as the seizure of movable and immovable assets worth several million euros.

The swift operation, carried out by the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA) of Bari and the Albanian authorities, is the result of a complex investigative activity against international drug trafficking, money laundering and abuse of office.

The operation was carried out with the support of Interpol, the Office of Security Experts in Tirana, the Albanian Police, under the coordination of the Anti-Mafia District Directorate of Bari and SPAK of Tirana.

According to investigations, the Albanian criminal organization operated on a large scale along the Balkan routes, with branches towards Northern Europe and consolidated drug landing sites in Puglia, considered a strategic center for the distribution of narcotics.

Cocaine and other narcotics were transported mainly via sea routes, with the logistical support of operational cells present in Italy, also involved in the management of illicit proceeds through money laundering activities and fictitious ownership of assets.

The precautionary measures were issued within the framework of the "URA" operation following investigations carried out by the DIA of Bari between September 2021 and June 2022, which made it possible to collect serious evidence against suspects, Albanians and Italians, belonging in Italy to two criminal groups based in Puglia and another criminal group in Albania, based in Durrës.

https://a2news.com/english/shqiperi...kokaine-drejt-barit-45-mln-euro-i1148575