While Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatmir Xhafaj continues to warn of a tough war against criminal organizations, dozens of Albanians involved in drug trafficking have been arrested. What is surprising, however, is that in spite of the tough words of the minister – whose brother is internationally wanted for cocaine trafficking – none of these arrests have been made in Albania.
In the last three months alone international media have reported on the arrests of:
- Arbër Çekaj, in Germany, for trafficking 613 kg of Colombian cocaine shipped to Albania on behalf of his company.
- Met Kamani, in Turkey, suspected of being the leader of an international drug trafficking network.
- A group of Albanians in the United Kingdom, convicted to serve 81 years in prison for trafficking cannabis and cocaine.
- Two Albanians in Spain, for trafficking one ton of Colombian cocaine.
- Three Albanians at the Greek–Macedonian border, for trafficking 40 kg of cannabis, while several other Albanians were arrested in Igoumenitsa, Greece with half a ton of cannabis.
- In France the murderer of two Albanian heroin traffickers was arrested, while in late March two Albanians were arrested for trafficking half a kilogram of heroin.
- Six Albanian citizens at the Greek–Macedonian border, for trafficking cocaine and cannabis from Switzerland.
- 11 Albanians in Belgium, part of an international cannabis network operating in Belgium and Luxembourg.
- Four Albanians in Switzerland, for trafficking 13 kg of heroin.
- In the Netherlands, the police suspect that Albanian criminals in the country are dealing with the Ireland-based Kinahan cartel, whose annual revenue is valued at €400 million, and has branches in Dubai, Spain, Turkey and Morocco, and is known for its connections to the Russian mob.
- In Italy, a speedboat carrying 2,500 kg of cannabis was confiscated, perhaps the largest naval shipment to be ever confiscated in Italy. Meanwhile, arrests of Albanians in various Italian cities continue daily.
It seems the Albanian police’s war against drug traffickers is mere lip service, as the international media continue to report daily on thousands of kilograms of cannabis originating from Albania.
