Operation King George: Albanian drug trafficking network dismantled in Italy, Sistiana also targeted
The Financial Guard has dismantled an international criminal organisation that trafficked drugs from Albania to northern and central Italy. Drug dealers operated also in Sistiana during the summer months.
Operation King George: Albanian drug trafficking network dismantled in Italy, Sistiana also targeted
Italian law enforcement authorities have dismantled an international criminal organisation engaged in trafficking narcotics from Albania to Italy. The operation, named King George and coordinated by the anti-mafia district prosecutor's office in Milan, led to the seizure of nearly 99 kilograms of drugs and the arrest of 16 people, with 35 individuals under investigation in total.
Financial Guard officers from Friuli Venezia Giulia began monitoring the criminal group after arresting two drug dealers and seizing two kilograms of marijuana in Latisana, near Lignano. The investigation subsequently revealed that the two were part of a much larger organisation, with branches extending to Lombardy and Liguria. The anti-mafia prosecutor's office in Milan therefore assumed direction of the investigation.
Agents conducted prolonged surveillance operations, intercepting communications between members of the group. The traffickers adopted strict precautionary measures: they used encrypted communication channels and regularly changed SIM cards and mobile phones to evade tracking by authorities.
The drugs – mainly marijuana, hashish and cocaine – were introduced into Italy through the Balkans and stored in various flats and garages. Near Pavia the criminals had set up a greenhouse for domestic cannabis cultivation. The drug distribution network was extremely sprawling: couriers delivered merchandise to individual retailers, who then distributed it to end customers. The drug dealers were mostly Albanian citizens who moved to Italy for periods of approximately three months, after which they were replaced by other members of the organisation.
Locations affected by drug trafficking included Brescia, Lecco, Siena, Monza, Brianza, Pavia and Savona. During the summer season, activities extended also to seaside resorts such as Sistiana, Grado, Jesolo, Caorle, Bibione and Latisana, where customers were approached near nightclubs, hotels and beach establishments.
During the searches, law enforcement seized 77.7 kilograms of marijuana (largely in Sesto San Giovanni), 21 kilograms of cocaine, three pistols with serial numbers removed and ten bladed weapons. On the prosecutor's orders, an Alfa Romeo Stelvio specially modified for drug transport was also confiscated, along with real estate, other vehicles, cash and luxury watches with a total value of over 1.1 million euros.
Source: Primorski.eu
Source: Google News SI — Crime (sl)