Speaking alongside prosecutors from Bari’s Anti-Mafia Directorate, the head of Special Anticrime and Anticorruption Prosecution Structure (SPAK), Klodian Braho said the operation stemmed from a long-running joint investigation supported by Eurojust.

Authorities in Albania and Italy issued measures against 15 suspects – 11 Albanians and four Italians – with arrests carried out in Albania, Italy and Spain.

Investigators said the group was involved in international narcotics trafficking and laundering criminal proceeds between Italy and Albania.

Braho said authorities had seized around 1 million euros in cash, along with companies, vehicles and bank accounts suspected of being linked to criminal activity.

The investigation also examined the April 2025 killing of Francesco Diviesti in southern Italy, which prosecutors described as a mafia-style execution.

The latest operation follows a series of joint investigations between SPAK and prosecutors in Bari targeting Albanian-organised crime networks involved in cocaine and heroin trafficking.

Since 2018, joint operations have resulted in around 170 arrests and the seizure of several tonnes of narcotics, prosecutors said.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.

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Head of SPAK, Arben Kraja, the Italian National Anti-Mafia and Counter–Terrorism Public Prosecutor, Federico Cafiero de Raho, the Vice President of Eurojust and National Member for Italy, Filippo Spiezia, Bari’s chief prosecutor, Roberto Rossi, and the Director General of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA), Maurizio Vallone, provided details over the operation during a joint press conference.

SPAK chief Kraja noted that the operation was finalized through prompt information exchange with the Italian authorities, adding that the operation dismantled “all links of this drug trafficking chain, from cultivation, production and smuggling to Italy.”

Kraja also said that involvement of various public officials, who have abused office to favour criminal activity, has been evidenced, adding that public officials include prosecutors, police officers, local government representatives.

“Assets worth several million euros have been seized. An important indicator is the cooperation of four justice witnesses. We have raised money laundering charges against the suspects. A year ago, we attended a conference in Rome, where we provided information on the first phase of this operation and at that meeting I stated we will get to the bottom of this investigation and whoever involved will be held accountable, including public officials and we are delivering on our commitment,” Kraja said.

Prosecutor at the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK), Vladimir Mara said that six metric tons of narcotics were seized in Albania and Italy during the anti-drug trafficking corruption and money laundering operation, and 80 suspects will wait trial under drug trafficking, corruption, money laundering and abuse of office charges.

Speaking at the joint conference by Albanian authorities and the Italian Anti-Mafia officials, Mara noted that the investigation “found numerous instances of drug smuggling from Albania to Italy and the organized crime group operated in several Italian and European cities, trafficking mostly cannabis, heroin, cocaine and other raw substances.”

“A considerable number of assets were sequestered mainly in Vlora, Kavaja, Tirana and other cities today, including 11 immovable properties, namely restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, land plots, etc,” Mara noted.

The Italian National Anti-Mafia and Counter–Terrorism Public Prosecutor, Federico Cafiero de Raho, praised SPAK prosecutors for their incredible work, saying the operation dismantled an international drug trafficking ring.

Raho said “a major objective was accomplished today.”

De Raho praised “the intense and close cooperation between the Italian and Albanian authorities.”

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