The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime completed the investigations and sent on 5.11.2026, to the Special Court of First Instance the request for the trial of criminal proceedings no. 187 of 2023, against 16 defendants:

– Ervis Çela, Franc Gergely (alias Franc Çopja), Fadil Balla (alias Julian Balla), Riza Çela, Ardjan Çela, Maringlen Mullaj, Petrit Lakatos (alias Petrit Sulejmani), Renato Musaku, Gert Çerma, Marenglen Kamami, Soni Pepa (alias Vilson Pepa) – accused of committing the criminal offenses “Drug trafficking”, committed in a special form of cooperation that of a criminal organization and “Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and a structured criminal group”, provided for by articles 283/a, 28/1 and 334 (paragraph 1) of the Criminal Code, “Laundering of proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”, committed in a special form of cooperation that of a criminal organization, provided for by articles 287/1, letters “a”, “b” and 28/1 of the Criminal Code, “Criminal organization”, in the form of organization, provided for by article 333, (paragraph 1) of the Criminal Code, “Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and a structured criminal group”, provided for by Article 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code.

– Albin Çela, Elidon Çela and Denis Daja – charged with the criminal offenses “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”, committed in a special form of cooperation, that of a criminal organization, provided for by articles 287/1, letters “a”, “b” and 28/1 of the Criminal Code; “Criminal organization”, in the form of participation, provided for by article 333, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code; “Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and a structured criminal group”, provided for by article 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code.

– Ditjon Pepa and Kujtim Gjyla – accused of the criminal offenses of “Laundering of proceeds of criminal offense or criminal activity”, committed in collaboration, provided for by articles 287/1, letters “a”, “b” and 25 of the Criminal Code.

– The Special Prosecution Office has taken the citizens Riza Çela and Albin Çela as defendants and sent them for trial for the criminal offenses of "Illegal construction", committed in collaboration for profit purposes, as provided for in Article 199/a/4 of the Criminal Code.

The structure and activity of the criminal organization

From the analysis of the investigative data administered within the framework of criminal proceedings no. 187/2023, including communications obtained through the encrypted platforms SkyECC, and EncroChat as well as other evidence administered during the investigation, data supporting the existence and functioning of a criminal organization with international reach, involved in the organization, coordination and implementation of the trafficking of significant quantities of cocaine from South American countries to European markets are presented.

The organization includes at least 16 identified people and many more, unidentified. The structure appears to be vertically organized, with cooperative relationships and consolidated connections with criminal groups and organizations in Paraguay and Brazil, and has operated at least during 2019-2021. The investigation so far has resulted in the two Albanian citizens, Franc Gergely, arrested in Belgium, and Ervis Çela, arrested in Albania in the framework of criminal proceedings no. 187/2023, have exercised co-leading functions in this criminal organization of international proportions. The administered data show that this structure had the capacity to control and coordinate various links in the drug trafficking chain, starting from the provision of narcotics in the countries of origin, its financing and transportation, to its distribution in several European Union countries, including Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Italy. The circulation of financial benefits from drug trafficking was carried out in a structured manner, through an international network, which used informal mechanisms for transferring monetary values, such as Hawala and the token identification mechanism. The activity of this structure extended to several countries and was based on cooperative relationships, consolidated contacts, and functional division of duties among the persons involved, part of the links in the trafficking chain. It focused on securing the narcotics in the countries of origin, financing their purchase and transportation, organizing their movement from production areas to collection points and ports of departure, preparing and disguising the cargo as legitimate goods, organizing maritime transport to Europe, and coordinating the reception, removal from ports, storage, distribution, and sale of cocaine in European markets. In parallel with these processes, data on the use of special mechanisms for financing activity, revenue administration and the transfer of funds between different countries are emerging. In this context, informal value transfer mechanisms are mentioned, including the Hawala system, as well as the use of identification codes or tokens to coordinate and verify the delivery and receipt of monetary amounts. The international scope, duration and repetition of the trafficking episodes, together with the use of special logistical and financial structures, testify to an organized and continuous activity, based on sustainable cooperation between the persons involved and a clear division of roles and responsibilities. From the analysis of the communications managed on the encrypted SkyECC platform, available since 29.11.2019, as well as the photographic materials exchanged between Ervis Çela, Franc Gergely and other collaborators, data related to the organization and implementation of drug trafficking have been identified. The communications, in Albanian and Spanish, contain references to the sending, receiving, quantities and transportation of cocaine, including its concealment in shipments of legal products being exported from Paraguay to Europe. Also, communications and photographic materials related to the circulation of monetary amounts, the use of the informal money transfer system "Hawala" and "token" identification codes, as well as through commercial companies that carry out import and export activities of legal products, have been identified. The communications contain references to companies, products, shipments, commercial documentation and the organization of transport. The exchanged photos show legitimate products, which, in the context of the conversations, appear to be part of the mechanism for transporting and camouflaging cargo.

roles

From the analysis of communications and other data administered, Ervis Çela and Franc Gergely appear to have had functions of particular importance in the organization and coordination of the suspected criminal activity.

Ervis Çela was involved in the supply chain in the countries of origin, including contacts with suppliers in Latin America, securing and financing quantities of cocaine, discussing its quality and prices, organizing transport from production areas to Paraguay, and coordinating road and air transport with small aircraft from Bolivia to Paraguay, in collaboration with other individuals involved. Ervis Çela is also linked to the process of collecting, storing and preparing cargo for export, as well as loading the narcotics at the port of Villeta, Paraguay.

Franc Gergely was mainly involved in financing and coordinating further phases of the activity, including organizing international transport, securing and coordinating companies ordering legal goods used to camouflage the cocaine, organizing the removal of cargo from European ports, mainly from the port of Antwerp, Belgium, as well as managing the sale of narcotics in Europe, on behalf of Ervis Çela and other associates.

From the analyzed communications, it results that the cocaine production laboratories in the Andes area, especially in Bolivia, were referred to by the term “kitchen”. In this phase of the supply, Ervis Çela appears to have had the central role. His communications with Franc Gergelyn evidence the coordination between the two links, that of supply and then of financing and international transport. According to the administered communications, after security in the countries of origin, the cocaine was transported to Paraguay, where it was stored and prepared for export. For this purpose, air transport with small planes from Bolivia to rural areas of Paraguay was also used. The communications mention loads of up to about 500 kg, which upon arrival were transferred to heavy-duty trucks, special for the transport of narcotics.

After arriving in Paraguay, the cocaine was collected, stored and prepared for export to Europe. The data collected shows that the PTSA and EPSRL trading companies, owned by citizen DIBC, were used. Through this trading infrastructure, the narcotic substance was repackaged and hidden in shipments containing legal products such as; patination putty, paints and other industrial products. The use of these companies enabled the creation of a commercial cover for exports, integrating the transport of cocaine into the normal circulation of international goods.

· Cocaine was purchased for around $4100-4200 per kilogram (this price also included transportation to the Port of Villeta, Paraguay).

· For boarding the ship, an additional $1300 per kilogram was paid, in the form of a bribe for the passage of the cargo.

In communications, the term “embarkation” was used to refer to this phase, while the term “exit” was for the removal of the cargo from the European port of destination. These data highlight the existence of costs determined for different phases of transport, as well as the need for coordination of financing between the persons involved in the relevant links of the activity. In general, river and intercontinental maritime transport were combined. The narcotics were hidden within legitimate commercial cargoes, placed in containers that follow the usual export routes. After departing from the Port of Villeta, Paraguay, the cargoes are transported through the Paraguay–Paraná river corridor to the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, which serves as a transit point and link between river and maritime transport. From this port, the containers are loaded onto transoceanic ships of international trade lines and continue sailing towards European ports. The main destinations identified include the ports of Hamburg, Germany, Antwerp, Belgium, Barcelona, ​​Spain and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. An important element in the functioning of this mechanism was the change of destination of the containers during their voyage to Europe, in order to direct them towards ports where the conditions were created to deliver and then extract the narcotic substance. The analysis of the SkyECC communications highlights an element of particular importance for determining the role of Franc Gergely in the phase of the cocaine's arrival in Europe. Specifically, it refers to contacts and cooperation with persons connected to customs and port security structures in Antwerp, Belgium, including persons who operated the scanner, performed security services, etc.

According to the proven modus operandi, for each shipment, legal products were ordered in advance from companies linked to the persons involved. After the containers left Paraguay and passed through the transit ports, the destination was changed and the port of delivery was determined. In this process, Franc Gergely appears as a person with contacts and organizational capacities to coordinate the removal of the cargo from the port of Antwerp. This phase was essential for the realization of the trafficking, as it required the cooperation of the carriers, persons with information on the movement of the containers and contacts in the port structures. The cost of removing the cocaine was estimated at 15% of the shipment and was usually paid in kind, through the delivery of a part of it.

After the cocaine was removed from European ports, the Netherlands served as one of the main centers for storage and wholesale distribution, under the coordination of Franz Gergely. The communications obtained show his involvement in coordinating quantities, setting prices, organizing packaging and transportation to EU countries, as well as administering payments and dividing the profits between the individuals involved. This evidence suggests that his role extended beyond removing the cocaine from ports, to also organizing the distribution and financial management of the suspected criminal activity.

An element that highlights the organization of criminal activity is the use of informal mechanisms for transferring monetary values, referred to in communications as “Hawala” and “token”. The Hawala system enabled the transfer of money across countries through a network of intermediaries, without using bank transfers or their physical transport, while the “token” served as an identifier for the realization and verification of the delivery of the amounts. Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Albania, Turkey and Dubai are mentioned as transit points or destinations for these transfers. From the analyzed communications it results that the relationship between Franc Gergely and Ervis Çela was characterized by the continuous coordination of the various links of the suspected criminal activity. Ervis Çela secured the cocaine at the source and organized its transport to Paraguay, while Franc Gergely was involved in financing the shipments, organizing sea transport, removing them from European ports and administering the cocaine upon arrival at the destination. Securing the cocaine and preparing the shipments for export, without financing and organizing their transport and removing them to the destination, could not achieve the final objective of the activity. Likewise, these phases required the prior provision of the narcotic substance. Consequently, the administered data support the assessment that Franc Gergely and Ervis Çela exercised decision-making powers over different, but interdependent, links, coordinating actions for the realization of the joint activity. The division of roles does not necessarily demonstrate a hierarchical relationship, but a model of cooperation where each acted with functional autonomy and responsibility for the respective link.

From the analysis of the administered data, Franc Gergely and Ervis Çela result as first-level leaders of the criminal organization, with central roles in coordinating cocaine trafficking. This leadership level also includes Fadil Balla, who appears to have acted mainly in collaboration with Ervis Çela and other persons under investigation. The second leadership level includes Petrit Lakatos, a close associate and right-hand man of Franc Gergely, with a role in removing cargo from the port of Antwerp, warehousing, wholesale distribution in the Netherlands and revenue management, as well as Mikolvan Mullaj, who appears to have coordinated operational activity under the direction of Ervis Çela and Fadil Balla. Each of them had subordinate associates, engaged in the transport of narcotics, their delivery, the collection of money and the sending of cargo to other destinations. This data evidences a structure organized at several leadership and operational levels.

From the analysis of encrypted communications on the SkyECC and EncroChat platforms and their combination with evidence administered through requests for international legal assistance and information exchanged with foreign authorities, it results that this criminal organization has organized and carried out the international trafficking of a quantity of no less than 60,7 tons of cocaine from South America to various countries in Europe, during the period 2019–2021. The scale of this criminal activity, its geographical scope and the volume of trafficked quantities evidence considerable organizational, logistical and financial capacities, as well as an international cooperation network, which has enabled the provision of narcotics in countries of origin, their transportation through international routes and distribution to European markets.

In this context, from the evidence administered, several concrete episodes of the seizure of significant quantities of cocaine have been identified, related to the period of activity of this organization, specifically:

ü December 2019 – Rotterdam, Netherlands: seizure of approximately 255 kg of cocaine.

ü April 2020 – Barcelona, ​​Spain: seizure of approximately 495 kg of cocaine.

ü May 2020 – Rotterdam, Netherlands: seizure of approximately 300 kg of cocaine.

ü November 2020 – Netherlands: seizure of approximately 600 kg of cocaine.

ü February 2021 – Hamburg, Germany: seizure of approximately 17 tons of cocaine.

In total, these five episodes document the seizure of approximately 18.650 kg (18,35 tons) of cocaine.

Ervis Çela's foreign collaborators, Franc Gergely and Fadil Balla

1. One of the key figures in Ervis Çela's network of contacts is the Uruguayan citizen with the initials SEMC, arrested in Bolivia in 2023 and subsequently extradited to the United States. According to the US Department of Justice and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), he is suspected of leading an international organization trafficking cocaine from South America to Europe and laundering the proceeds of this criminal activity.

2. Another close associate of Ervis Çela is another Uruguayan citizen with the initials FESV, who is involved in international money laundering schemes in Paraguay, in favor of drug trafficking organizations. He mediated the transfer of millions of dollars, profited from drug trafficking in various European countries to South America and other destinations. This citizen was arrested in Paraguay in August 2023, as part of the anti-drug operation “A Ultranza PY”, and in July 2024 was extradited to the USA.

3. Among Ervis Çela's closest associates is also the Paraguayan citizen with the initials DIBC. He is the owner of several commercial companies, which are suspected of being used for the storage, preparation and camouflage of cocaine in legal products, for further transportation in containers to Europe. Currently, this citizen is internationally wanted.

4. Another Paraguayan national linked to this activity is the citizen with the initials ARG, currently in custody, who, in Paraguay and Brazil, faces criminal charges for alleged involvement in international organized crime. The Paraguayan prosecution accuses him of international drug trafficking and money laundering. He owned sports aircraft, which were allegedly used to transport significant quantities of cocaine from Bolivia to Paraguay.

5. This network of collaborators also includes the Brazilian citizen with the initials CSL, currently internationally wanted by the Brazilian authorities. He is found to be involved, in collaboration with Ervis Çela, in organizing the purchase, financing and distribution of narcotics shipments, through the continuous supply of multi-ton quantities of cocaine, produced in laboratories in the Andes region.

6. Also, Brazilian citizens with the initials RPA and Th.ADB are involved in the administration of laboratories, the determination of cocaine quality parameters and the identification of shipments through marks stamped on packages of narcotics. An important indicator of Ervis Çela's position in this relationship is the willingness of suppliers to make available to him and his associates quantities of 2.000 to 3.000 kilograms of cocaine without prepayment, postponing the repayment of the financial obligation to a later moment.

7. Following this data, the analysis of communications shows that, in some cases, cocaine production laboratories encountered difficulties in fulfilling the demands of Ervis Çela and his associates, due to the inability to produce and secure the required quantities of the narcotic substance.

The volume of criminal activity has been associated with the realization of extremely large financial benefits, potentially in the billions of euros. For this reason, an important aspect of the investigation is also related to the identification, tracing and seizure of potential proceeds of criminal activity, as well as the evidence of the financial mechanisms used for their transfer, investment and concealment.

sequestration

An important part of the investigation was the identification and seizure of assets that the investigated defendants and their family members may have owned, which are suspected of having criminal origins.

At the request of the Special Prosecution Office, the Special Court of First Instance has ordered the security measure 'preventive seizure' on the assets of the subjects of the investigation or related persons as follows:

1. The commercial entity "Solis FARM", which carries out activities in the field of agritourism, accommodation, hotel and bar-restaurant services, as well as on the properties and assets related to the exercise of this activity, specifically:

2. 100% of the quotas of the economic operator "SOLIS FARM", with an activity address in the village of Mumajes, Baldushk Administrative Unit, Tirana (Kodra e Kishës).

3. Immovable property no. 128/8, volume 3, page 172, Cadastral Zone 2736, located in Mumajes, Baldushk, Tirana.

4. Immovable property no. 121/8, volume 3, page 172, Cadastral Zone 2736, located in Mumajes, Baldushk, part of the economic operator “SOLIS FARM”.

5. The restaurant service building, together with all its interior and exterior premises, as well as all items, equipment and furnishings located in these premises.

6. Bank account at Raiffeisen Bank, in the name of citizen D.Gj., with a balance of 71.268,44 euros.

In the name of citizen Albin Çela and in co-ownership:

1. Property no. 348/37, vol. 23, page 164, ZK 3321, with active status, located in Sharra, Tirana, on which industrial silos and buildings for the exercise of commercial activity have been built.

2. Property no. 348/38, vol. 23, page 165, ZK 3321, Sharra, Tirana.

3. Property no. 349/47, vol. 12, page 5, ZK 3321, in Sharra,

4. Property no. 348/29, vol. 15, page 33, ZK 3321, Sharra, Tirana.

5. Property no. 348/43, vol. 11, page 245, ZK 3321, Sharra, Tirana

6. Property no. 349/45, vol. 12, page 3, ZK 3321, owned by Albin Çela and A. Ç, Sharrë, Tirana.

7. A villa ordered from the entrepreneurial company "NG STRUCTURES" sh.pk, for which a prepayment has been invoiced.

8. Economic interests in the company “Giam Konstruksion” sh.pk, with NIPT L73106801V, including its quotas and shares, with an activity address in Agonas, Kavaja.

On behalf of citizen Riza Çela:

1. Property no. 348/14, vol. 2, page 110, ZK 3321, with an area of ​​5.900 m², of the “Field” category.

Financial evaluation of investments

Referring to the expert report, it results that citizens Albin Çela and Riza Çela have invested in the purchase of land a value exceeding 50.000.000.00 lek, while the cost of constructing four buildings erected on these land areas is estimated at over 1.200.000 euros.

Assets seized from citizen Fadil Balla:

1. AJMAN PARK”, resort in Xhafzotaj, Durrës, which includes hotels, service buildings, restaurants and other commercial premises, as well as interests related to the company “AMR”. Referring to the technical-evaluation expert report, the value of the investment in this resort amounts to 463.126.800 lekë.

2. Property of the type of two-story villa, type “ELYSIAN”, with no. L1, part of the tourist complex “Ionian Olea”, located on the coast of Dhërmi, Himara Municipality, with an area of ​​103 m² on the ground floor, 110 m² on the first floor, 18.1 m² of balconies and 26.6 m² of veranda, as well as the plot at its disposal, with a total area of ​​approximately 378.2 m². According to the referenced valuation, the property has a market value of 1,000,000 euros.

Assets seized from citizen FC

1. 100% of the capital shares of the trading company “Check Company” Sh.pk, with headquarters at Dibrës Street, Tirana, as well as 25 (twenty-five) motor vehicles registered in the ownership of this company, with a total value of 69,973,223 (sixty-nine million nine hundred seventy-three thousand two hundred twenty-three) lek, a value which represents the initial purchase price of the motor vehicles, deducting the accumulated depreciation up to the moment of valuation.

Value of seizures

A cash amount of 130,000 (one hundred and thirty thousand) euros was seized, as well as vehicles and other valuables.

The total value of the seized assets and monetary amounts is estimated at approximately 9,181,000.00 (9 million and 181 thousand euros).

Within the framework of this criminal proceeding, SPAK has developed close cooperation with Eurojust, Europol, within the framework of the "White Eclipse" operation, as well as with the judicial authorities of the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Brazil and other countries. We express our gratitude for their contribution in advancing the investigations and bringing to justice the leaders and members of the criminal organization. We also thank the US Government and the OPDAT Office at the US Embassy in Tirana for their financial support and facilitating cooperation with the judicial authorities of South American countries. Special appreciation is expressed to the investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Financial Sector for the professionalism and dedication shown during the investigation. The investigations continue within the framework of a separate proceeding, with the aim of identifying other collaborators, documenting possible criminal offenses and tracing movable and immovable assets derived from criminal activity or related to the organization.