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Cocaine network bust/Europol: Group leader Ervis Çela sentenced to 21 years for murder in Italy
2025-08-12 12:02:57 / AKTUALITET
A series of raids conducted on August 7 and 8, 2025 in Albania led to the arrest of 10 people suspected of being members of an Albanian organized crime network involved in multi-ton cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Albanian law enforcement, in cooperation with their colleagues from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, carried out this Europol-supported crackdown on a clan-based criminal network.
Investigations have shown that the network had links to other high-risk international criminal organisations, involved in numerous criminal activities across the EU and beyond.
Following the arrest of a key member of the organization by Albanian authorities in late June 2025, Ervis Çela, the raids also led to the seizure of significant assets, including a hotel, various properties and businesses, as well as extensive physical and digital evidence.
Results of the raids (15 search warrants):
Seizure of real estate, such as a tourist resort, villas, apartments, plots of land, as well as vehicles and shares in companies, worth several million euros
Seizure of cash: 111,800 euros, 4,000 US dollars (about 3,434 euros), and 880,000 Albanian lek (about 9,048 euros)
Sky EÇ encrypted communication platform continues to deliver results since 2021
Although the encrypted communication platform Sky EÇ was dismantled over four years ago, its content continues to deliver operational results.
Europol's in-depth and targeted data analysis enables law enforcement authorities to gather valuable information about high-risk organized criminal groups and their members.
This coordinated approach helps investigators map the structure of criminal networks and the role of individuals declared as High Value Targets.
This special operation led by the Albanian SPAK focused on a high-level Albanian target involved in cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Investigators from Albania, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, together with Europol experts, analyzed encrypted communications data from Sky EÇ.
Among the reconstructed criminal episodes were multi-ton shipments of cocaine trafficked from Latin America to major EU ports, including Hamburg and Rotterdam.
Investigations showed that from just one of these shipments, the main target had benefited from over $40 million.
The leader of the criminal organization was responsible for organizing shipments and investing in very large quantities of cocaine.
He coordinated these criminal activities from remote locations, relying on encrypted means of communication.
Ervis Çela Prior to his arrest, he was wanted under an Albanian court decision that recognized a 21-year prison sentence given by an Italian court for murder, deprivation of liberty, attempted concealment of corpses, threats, illegal possession of explosives and ammunition, and obstruction of justice.
The Albanian criminal network under investigation operated on a completely global scale, collaborating with other groups that facilitated transports to EU ports.
The massive profits, amounting to tens of millions of euros, were invested in properties and businesses in Albania and other European countries.
Europol's expertise in action
Europol provided extensive expertise on the criminal areas under investigation, covering organized crime structures, large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering.
Based on big data analysis, Europol distributed intelligence and analytical reports to cooperating partners, who met and exchanged information in several operational meetings.
During the day of the operation, Europol deployed an organized crime expert to Tirana, Albania, who supported with a mobile office and facilitated international law enforcement cooperation.
Albania: Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK); National Bureau of Investigation; State Police
Belgium: Federal Judicial Police
Germany: Federal Criminal Police Office; Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office (Karlsruhe)
Italy: State Police; Service for International Police Cooperation (SCIP)
The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) addresses the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU.
EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT operates in four-year cycles with a focus on common EU crime priorities.
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