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NAMES/ Tons of DRUGS trafficked on the Albania-Italy-Spain axis, the organization of "Lulit" and "Karlos" is dismantled!

2025-10-05 12:49:51Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Guardia di Financa/ Antimafia of Lecce

A mega-operation was carried out by the Guardia di Financa and the Antimafia of Lecce on October 2, dismantling an Italian-Albanian drug trafficking organization that operated in the transfer of tons of drugs from Albania to Italy and then to Spain and vice versa.

At least 29 people have been arrested and charged, including women, most of whom are family members and well-known bosses.

The organization's main base was in Salento, while hundreds of forces participated in the operation and drugs, money, and valuable material evidence were seized.

The investigation revealed the existence of numerous criminal groups, mainly composed of Italians and Albanians (including a Spaniard), who were suspected of running a complex drug trafficking network. The operation, called “Gioele”, led by the Anti-Mafia Directorate of the Lecce District, which coordinated the investigation, proceeded directly with the warnings, without first requesting a precautionary measure.

Investigations have been ongoing since the Covid-19 pandemic, through surveillance, wiretapping, sporadic arrests and seizures. Strong contacts maintained abroad, particularly in Spain and Albania, were essential to all of this.

Part of the file is in process as investigations have been ongoing since 2018, continuing during the pandemic and currently with further arrests and seizures underway, Italian media reports .

Who are the suspects?

The accused and arrested are: Xhuljano Ajazay, a 28-year-old Albanian, Claron Bajrusi, a 21-year-old from Campi Salentina, Julian Beqiraj, a 45-year-old Albanian, Laura Borioni, a 51-year-old resident of Rome (but residing in Milan), Stefano Brocca, a 48-year-old from Rome, Luigi Buttazzo, a 69-year-old from Castri di Lecce, Mauro Centonze, a 50-year-old from Lecce, Cristian De Giorgi, a 43-year-old from Lecce, Alfred Feta (also known as Fredi), a 56-year-old Albanian, residing in Vicchio (Florence).

Also: Jeta Feta, 51-year-old Albanian, Matteo Fracarolli (known as Rolli), a 40-year-old from Novellara (Reggio Emilia); Erion Kaloshi, 44-year-old Albanian; Arjan Komini, 44-year-old Albanian; Lulezim Kule (known as Luli or Jimmy), 49-year-old Albanian, resident of Monteprandone (Ascoli Piceno); Eltion Majkaj (known as Elti), 37-year-old Albanian; Alessandro Marchello (known as Otto), a 52-year-old from the Castromediano district of Cavallino.

Also under investigation are: Lusjan Mbole (known as Lusi), a 30-year-old Albanian, residing in Lecce and Zagarolo (Rome); Xhjusild Osmenaj, a 34-year-old Albanian; Francesco Prato, a 55-year-old from Lecce; Nelm Sacaj, a 28-year-old Albanian; Shkelqim Sinani (known as Çimi), a 48-year-old Albanian residing in Copertino; Marco Scalise (known as Shell), a 52-year-old from Milan; Carlo Serio, a 51-year-old resident of Ibiza, Spain, residing in Torre Chianca, Lecce; who is also suspected of being the boss of the cartel, Joan Herrera Sotorres, a 43-year-old from Barcelona (Spain); Endri Xhumbaraj, a 33-year-old Albanian; Ervis Xhumbaraj (known as Visi), a 47-year-old Albanian, residing in Rome (but with a home in Lecce).

Finally: Sheptim Xhepa (known as Tmi), 43 years old Albanian, resident of Lecce; Anila Zeqe, 51 years old Albanian, resident of Castri di Lecce; and Kujtim Zeqe (known as Jimmy or Çimi), 53 years old Albanian, resident of Lecce. Some of the defendants from Lecce are being defended by lawyers Silvio Verri, Antonio Savoia, Americo Barba and Raffaele Benfatto.

Over 2.5 tons of drugs

During the investigation, carried out by the GICO (Organized Crime Investigation Group) of the “Fiamme Gialle” and focused on a two-year period, from 2018 to 2020, around thirty people were arrested in flagrante delicto and a total of 2,677 kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, hashish and marijuana, as well as 4,975 liters of hashish oil, were seized.

The operation also led to the seizure of 192,640 euros in cash, along with sixteen cars and four boats, all assets believed to have been instrumental in the illegal activity.

According to investigators, the value of the drugs, if placed on the market, would have generated estimated illegal profits for criminal organizations of approximately 6 million euros.

The Lulzim and Serios Group

Among the main actors in the investigation are Albanian Lulezim Kule, a resident of the Marche region, and Carlo Serio from Lecce. The former is believed to have been in charge, maintaining contacts between Albania and Spain; the latter is its consolidated terminal.

Serio is also believed to be a resident of Ibiza and is already on trial for similar trafficking as part of the investigation into the Pepe-Penza-Gagliardi clan, which has emerged in recent years as dominant in the capital and surrounding areas.

Therefore, Kule would have provided logistical support for the supply, transport and storage of the "goods" (mainly cocaine), benefiting from the collaboration of another Lecce native, Francesco Prato, and Roman Laura Borioni.

Meanwhile, Serio – Kule's trusted associate – with proven experience in the "sector" and financial resources, would return to Italy when necessary to organize the trafficking, also with the support of Alessandro Marchello (from Cavallino), Marco Scalise (from Milan) and Joan Herrera Sotorres (from Spain) for the processing of the drugs before delivery to the final buyers.

Much more than a curiosity: for the production of cannabis, the gang would have used the expertise of Matteo Fracarolli from Reggio Emilia, owner of a company that deals with the cultivation of plants for the processing of textile fibers, through the addition of light cannabis, effectively creating a laboratory capable of producing large quantities of the drug in a short time.

Another man from Lecce who is suspected of playing an important role is Mauro Centonze, who, according to documents, is linked to Albanian brothers Endri and Ervis Xhumbaraj, the second operative in the Salento capital, and to Lusjan Mbole, with whom both are linked.

They allegedly created a real link between Italian and Albanian criminal organizations, with Centonze collaborating by storing and selling drugs, in some cases driving vehicles loaded with "goods" to reach the exchange sites.

Then there was the Albanian group composed of Alfred Feta, Arjan Komini, Shkelqim Sinanin and Kujtim Zeqe, with another alleged accomplice from Salento, Luigi Buttazzo. They were said to have specialized in the transit of narcotics from the Albanian coast, especially marijuana and cannabis, destined for various Italian centers after being stored in the province of Lecce.

In particular, 69-year-old Buttazzo, a confidant of Zeqe (who also lived in Lecce), is suspected of securing work at the landing points and helping transport the drugs to a warehouse in the Torre Chianca marina. From there, as mentioned, the substances would be transported elsewhere.

Alongside these prominent figures, according to investigations ordered by Public Prosecutor Giovanna Cannarile, there were others who were not accused of drug trafficking conspiracy, but of individual incidents of drug trafficking.

Some have been identified and are therefore being investigated, while others remain unknown.


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