An international criminal organization, composed mainly of Albanian citizens, has been hit by Italian authorities as part of the operation codenamed "Caveau 38", carried out in cooperation with SPAK in Albania.
Investigations have uncovered an international drug trafficking network operating between Albania, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany.
According to authorities, the group had trafficked around 240 kilograms of cocaine from Albania to Italy, while transferring around 14 million euros in cash from Italy to Albania and other countries.
The operation was carried out by the Guardia di Finanza in Lecco, with the authorization of the Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office in Milan, where the preventive seizure of two commercial companies suspected of being used to launder money obtained from criminal activity was executed.
A total of 52 people have been placed under investigation, including the owners and administrators of the two companies. According to prosecutor Marcello Viola, the organization was involved in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine, as well as the collection and transfer abroad of money obtained from illegal activity.
Investigators have also documented money laundering through the purchase of precious metals. Specifically, the purchase of at least 8 kilograms of gold bars was discovered through a company that was active in the processing of precious metals and had headquarters in Milan and Alessandria.
Meanwhile, another company in Lecco allegedly served as the group's financial safe, investing the illicit money in real estate.
During the operation, 6 people were arrested in flagrante delicto, while 1.5 million euros in cash and 32 kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine, heroin and cannabis, were seized.
To guarantee the continuity of the two companies' activities and to protect the employees, who according to the investigation were unaware of the criminal activity, a judicial administrator has been appointed.
SPAK investigators also participated in the international operation, marking another collaboration between Albanian and Italian authorities in the fight against organized crime and money laundering.
