HomeNewsBriefAlbania's Largest Cocaine Seizure Points to New European Routes
BRIEF

Albania's Largest Cocaine Seizure Points to New European Routes

COCAINE / 2 MAR 2018 BY ANGELIKA ALBALADEJO* EN

The unprecedented seizure of more than half a ton of cocaine at an Albanian port suggests Colombian crime groups seeking to cash in on booming production are diversifying trafficking routes into the lucrative European market.

Albanian authorities seized 613 kilogramss of cocaine on March 1 that had entered the country on a cargo ship, according to a press release from the Colombian army, which participated in the operation.

Albanian Police Chief Ardi Veliu said that the cocaine seizure was the largest in Albania's history. The cocaine was hidden in a secret compartment within a shipping container on a boat transporting bananas from Colombia. The cargo ship passed through ports in Malta and Italy before arriving at Durres, Albania on February 19.

Following a tip from the Colombian military, Albanian police tracked the movement of the shipping container to a nearby warehouse belonging to a company called Arbiri Garden. Authorities then arrested two employees, including the truck driver who transported the container. An arrest warrant has also been issued for the company's owner.

According to the Colombian army, the Urabeños crime group is known to have contacts at several European ports.

Police Chief Veliu said that "Albanian authorities are still investigating with their foreign counterparts to uncover all of the relationships and people involved in this criminal activity," Reuters reported.

Authorities estimate that the confiscated cocaine had a market value of about $220 million and was likely destined for sale in Western European countries.

InSight Crime Analysis

Albania’s recent seizure of the biggest ever cocaine shipment intercepted in that country indicates that Colombian crime groups are attempting to extend their reach into profitable European markets by diversifying points of entry.

With cocaine production booming in Colombia, European countries are becoming increasingly attractive markets for Colombian crime groups looking to offload the drug. As InSight Crime has recently reported, massive shipments of cocaine have been seized in Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Germany. Last month, a plane carrying half a metric ton of cocaine was intercepted in the United Kingdom, while another half-ton of cocaine seized from Russia’s embassy in Argentina led to the dismantling of an unprecedented drug ring.

SEE ALSO: Coverage of European Organized Crime

Albania already has a long history of marijuana production and trafficking, but its status as a transit route for Colombian cocaine destined for European markets appears to be growing. Colombian crime groups are likely being drawn by Albania’s strategic location between lucrative markets in both Eastern and Western Europe, as well as existing ties between the Albanian mafia and the Italian 'Ndrangheta.

In 2016, Albanian authorities uncovered a cocaine trafficking ring involving Colombian chemists, members of the 'Ndrangheta and contacts in Holland, Greece and Belgium. The now dismantled network would dissolve Colombian cocaine into shipments of construction supplies like cement, then Colombian chemists in Albania would extract the cocaine for distribution across the European continent.

Colombian crime groups trafficking directly to Albania likely expected to avoid interception by avoiding the usual European routes through countries like Spain, where authorities are cracking down on drug rings. But with Albania under pressure to intensify the fight against organized crime as part of its bid to join the European Union, the recent massive cocaine seizure indicates this alternative route into the region will not go unwatched.

*With additional reporting by María Fernanda Ramírez.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

COCAINE EUROPE / 17 JUN 2021

A criminal group in Colombia is turning dirty money into adulterated gold, in the latest addition to a long list…

COCAINE / 17 FEB 2023

Wilder Emilio Sánchez Farfán, alias “Gato Farfán” helped develop Ecuador's credentials as a drug trafficking hub.

ARMS TRAFFICKING / 21 SEP 2022

Trinidad and Tobago's homicide rate has past 400 for the year and authorities appear unable to stop it.

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…