The Greek media have published the photo of Azdren Muharemi alias Jason Merkuri, the Albanian arrested by the Greek police as the head of a criminal group that had trafficked 210 kg of cocaine from Latin America in collaboration with the well-known Greek trafficker Ioannis Viglakis.
Jasona Merkuri, according to the Greek media, took care of finding trafficked amounts of drugs, financing the purchase and transport and organizing the shipment from Panama to European countries
the final destination was Albania. His partner was 36-year-old Marcel Stafaj from Albania, who was involved in finding and recruiting partners in Greece for the importation and acquisition of drugs and their further trafficking.
operation
The Greek authorities have published details of the operation, noting that the value of the seized drugs is estimated to exceed 5 million euros.
The operation was carried out by the officers of the Narcotics Prosecutor's Office in cooperation with the American DEA and hits an organization that has previously transported drugs from Latin America.
Two Albanian citizens (Azdren Muharemi and Marsel Stafaj) and two Greeks, all four recognized by the Hellenic police as criminal exponents, have been captured. During the operation, the police searched the apartments of the arrested, finding cocaine, cannabis, over 130,000 euros in cash, weapons and cartridges.
According to the results of the investigations, the organizer of the network is 48-year-old Azdren Muharemi alias Jasona Merkuri, who took care of finding the drug at the source, financing the purchase and transport to Greece, hiding it in containers and then organizing the drug distribution that comes from Panama to European countries.
The direct partner of the 48-year-old is his compatriot, 36-year-old Marcel Stafaj, who was involved in finding and recruiting partners in Greece to ensure the passage of drugs to the port of Piraeus.
As for the Greek members of the group, one of them was responsible for communicating with members of the criminal organization based abroad, representing them in coordinating the supply and financing of the purchase of the quantities of drugs to be trafficked, while the other ensured the protection of the "leader", taking appropriate measures to avoid his arrest.
Criminal career
It is worth noting that Azdren Muharemi, who is considered the head of the group, was declared wanted in 2017, after being accused of being responsible for financing and setting up a laboratory for the production of synthetic drugs.
In particular, he directed a laboratory for the production and standardization of the synthetic formula "Captagon" in the prefecture of Peramos, where 634 thousand tablets were seized.
At that time, the Athens court sentenced the Albanian to 20 years in prison and a 100,000 euro fine.