Albanian brothers arrested for running European drug ring

Jan 21 - A joint investigation by Italian and Albanian prosecutors has taken down a cocaine-smuggling network linked to two Albanian brothers. The operation, backed by EUROJUST, targeted the group’s activities in moving drugs from South America into Italy and other parts of central Europe.

On Tuesday, police carried out 12 arrest warrants and imposed eight other security measures. Five suspects were arrested in Albania, one in Spain, and another remains at large.

The gang, allegedly led by the notorious Çela brothers from Elbasan, oversaw all stages of the trade, from importing cocaine to managing its distribution and laundering the profits back to Albania.

The investigation began in mid-2020 after a cocaine network was uncovered in bars near Lago di Garda, Italy. Over time, authorities mapped out the structure of the Italo-Albanian criminal organisation.

Encrypted phone messages revealed the gang’s extensive operations, including frequent trips to Colombia, Ecuador, and Dubai to negotiate deals with suppliers. Police say profits were sent back to Albania via a system involving bus drivers on the Brescia-Elbasan route.

“This group managed every phase of the trade—from storage to distribution and collecting the profits,” said Albanian prosecutors.

The organisation is suspected of trafficking hundreds of kilograms of cocaine across Europe, with the brothers at the helm of the operation.