Police have provided details of the crackdown on a structured criminal drug trafficking group following an operation finalized by Albania in cooperation with Italy.
During the operation codenamed " Alba Tibus ", 3 Albanians were arrested: Anxhelo Ajazaj , 27 years old, Clarens Dalipaj alias Dhrami , 30 years old, and Xhino Hamitaj , 30 years old.
Investigations have identified another member of the group, Eurel Liçaj , who is currently serving a sentence in Rrogozhina prison.
According to the police, the 3 arrested young men and the convicted man have been trafficking cannabis in Italy, mainly Rome.
"They and the EL citizen who is currently serving a sentence in the Rrogozhina Penitentiary Institution, are accused, within the framework of a criminal proceeding initiated by the Rome Prosecutor's Office, of having trafficked in Italy (mainly in Rome) the narcotic substance Cannabis Sativa in 2019, organized as a structured criminal group," the blue uniforms announced.
Police announcement:
The international operation codenamed "Alba Tibus" is being finalized in Albania and Italy, to crack down on a structured criminal group involved in drug trafficking.
The operation in Albania was finalized by the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and the Directorate of the Special Operational Force in the Criminal Police Department, in cooperation with the Vlora Local Police Directorate, as well as in coordination with Italian counterparts, with the Italian Interforce Office in Albania, the Carabinieri of Rome, Parioli, and with the Interpol Directorate.
Accused of participating in a structured criminal group in Italy, for cannabis trafficking, 3 Albanian citizens are located, arrested and put in handcuffs.
Joint investigations identify another member of the group, who is currently serving a sentence at the Rrogozhina Penitentiary Institution.
As part of the international operation "Alba Tibus.Al", citizens AA, 27 years old, KD alias K. Dh., 30 years old and Xh. H., 30 years old, were arrested. They and citizen EL, who is currently serving a sentence at the Rrogozhina Penitentiary Institution, are accused in a criminal proceeding initiated by the Rome Prosecutor's Office of having trafficked in Italy (mainly in Rome) the narcotic Cannabis Sativa in 2019, organized as a structured criminal group.
The State Police is committed and determined to continue cooperation with partners, for joint investigative and operational actions, with the aim of cracking down on criminal activities in the field of organized crime and capturing citizens declared internationally wanted.
Dozens of arrests between Italy, Albania and Spain
A major anti-drug operation has been carried out by Rome police, leading to the arrest of 27 people in Italy, Albania and Spain .
The operation, coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA), dismantled a criminal organization that used the Extraordinary Reception Center on Via della Riserva Nuova in Rome as a base for the storage and distribution of drugs.
The investigation revealed that the facility was also a recruitment site for Nigerian migrants, holders of temporary residence permits, involved in illegal activities.
The arrested are accused, to varying degrees, of drug trafficking, possession and supply of narcotics, extortion, illegal possession of weapons, and fictitious registration of property.
The measure provides for prison sentences for 20 people and house arrest for 7 others.
Investigation carried out by the Carabinieri of the Rome Parioli Company with the support of the Central Directorate of Anti-Drug Services.
Large quantities of marijuana were imported from Vlora (Albania) and distributed throughout Europe thanks to an alliance between Albanian and Nigerian criminal groups.
The organization transported the drugs using public transportation.
Italian media report that thanks to cooperation with local police and the support of the Central Directorate of Criminal Police and Interpol, several arrests were made in Vlora and the province of Barcelona.