Meetings in Spain, Monaco, Belgium, Germany, Aruba and other countries have been documented by Belgian authorities and have become part of the Special Prosecution's file against the criminal group led by Alfredo Hamzai.
According to SPAK, one of the key people in these international movements is Artur Shehu, who is suspected of having participated in meetings where the purchase, transportation and introduction of large quantities of cocaine into Europe was planned.
"In these meetings, among others and to varying degrees of participation, citizens Adrian Rama, Elton Memeti, Erjon Rama, Leonard Bishaj, Bujar Shehaj, Alfredo Hamzai and Pëllumb Petritaj participate," the investigative documents state.
A series of meetings held in Majorca during 2019 brought together some of the group's key figures, including Adrian Rama, Elton Memeti, Toni Lipaj, Artur Shehu, Arben Ismailaj, Klodjan Jahja and Bujar Shehaj. Some of them were also attended by Kosovar businessman Bashkim Osmani.
According to the file, these meetings took place a few months before the January 2020 operation in Barcelona, ??where authorities seized 441 kilograms of cocaine and arrested Alfredo Hamza's cousin.
Another important meeting took place in Monaco, where, according to investigations, the coordination of cocaine trafficking from Suriname to Europe was discussed. Alfredo Hamzai, Adrian Rama, Elton Memeti, Artur Shehu and Arben Ismailaj participated in this meeting.
But the case doesn't stop at drug trafficking.
According to information received from Belgian authorities, several meetings held during 2019 focused on investing suspected profits from drug trafficking in the real estate sector in Albania.
In Antwerp, between February 12 and 14, 2019, Adrian Rama, Elton Memeti, Arben Ismailaj and Alfredo Hamzai allegedly discussed such investments, while another episode that has attracted the attention of investigators is related to the stay of several members of the group in Aruba, in the Netherlands Antilles.
According to documents referenced by SPAK, during the period January 24-31, 2019, Arben Ismailaj, Elton Memeti, Adrian Rama, Artur Shehu and Bujar Shehaj stayed in Aruba, where Belgian authorities report "meetings with senior Albanian state officials."
Based on the investigative material, these contacts are suspected to be related to real estate projects in Tirana and the south of the country, potentially financed with illegal funds and with political support.
However, SPAK clarifies that at this stage no evidence is presented that identifies the officials involved or proves their participation in illegal activities.
Belgian investigators consider Artur Shehu to be a leading figure within the organization, with a role in coordinating cocaine trafficking and overseeing suspected real estate investments.