FLASH NEWS
Albanian cocaine cartel busted in Ecuador, 16 arrested and over 7 tons of drugs seized
2026-03-03 18:28:30 / AKTUALITET
The Colombian National Police announced that it destroyed a criminal organization linked to the Albanian mafia that operated in the provinces of Guayas, Pichincha and El Oro.
The operation resulted in 16 arrests, 26 raids and the seizure of 7.64 tons of drugs, which authorities estimate to have a market value of $346 million in Europe.
The investigation lasted for more than a year and began in October 2024, after an operation in the Barbones sector of the El Oro province, where agents seized half a ton of illegal substances and arrested three people. From that point on, the police coordinated the actions with Europol, authorities in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the DEA.
Interior Minister John Reimberg explained that the organization was sending contaminated shipments from Ecuadorian ports to various destinations in Europe.
"Twenty-six raids were carried out in different provinces of Ecuador, resulting in the arrest of 16 people," he said after the operation. The coordinated international operation led to the seizure of a quantity of drugs in Europe.
Investigations identified direct links to Albanian nationals considered priority targets in simultaneous operations in Spain. Parallel operations in the Netherlands resulted in the seizure of 2.5 tonnes of drugs in Operation Victoria, with five arrests made, including Dutch and Romanian nationals.
Subsequently, in Operation Victoria II, Dutch authorities seized an additional 1.2 tonnes without making any arrests. In another operation, 3.2 tonnes were confiscated and three Albanian nationals were arrested. In total, the operations on European territory amounted to 7.64 tonnes reported.
Reimberg claimed that the economic impact against the organization exceeds $346 million.
In raids conducted in Ecuador, police seized 14 luxury vehicles, 20 cell phones, firearms, jewelry and more than $800,000 in cash found in homes connected to the network.
Among those arrested in the operation is Hernán Ruilova, captured in Machala. According to the minister, he was part of the organization responsible for contaminating shipments destined for Europe. Former assemblyman Salomón Padua was also arrested; according to Reimberg, he is part of the group under investigation for organized crime and drug trafficking, Ecuadorian media reported .
"They are all part of this long investigation that has resulted in the arrest of these people," the official said.
The minister confirmed that agents from Europol, Antwerp Police, the Netherlands' national investigation unit and the DEA participated in an operations center set up in the country to monitor the intervention.
He also announced that large-scale operations will be carried out in four provinces between March 15 and 30, under the state of emergency and curfew declared by the president.
"We will act with full force," he declared.
Reimberg noted that cooperation with the United States includes information sharing, weapons seizure, and action against illegal shipments.
He also reported that violent deaths fell by almost 10% in February, as part of the strategy against criminal organizations.
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