SPAK has published the official announcement on the operation to crack down on two criminal groups in the field of drug trafficking.
The group was allegedly led by Luçiano Koçeku and Alfredo Hamzain. Out of 20 security measures, only 4 were executed: Orgest Bircaj, Ilir Shtufi, Dritan Aga, Jaupi, Gezim Islami and Orest Sota.
The operation of SPAK and the National Bureau of Investigation has hit two criminal groups suspected of international cocaine trafficking and money laundering in Albania. By decision of the GJKKO, security measures have been imposed on 20 people, of whom 15 are under prison arrest and 5 are under house arrest. According to SPAK, only six of them have been executed so far.
Among those arrested is Orest Sota, who was arrested during the mega-operation carried out with the support of the State Police. Meanwhile, businessman Ilir Shtufi, known for his connections with Shkëlzen Berisha, was arrested in Thessaloniki. Businessman Artur Shehu, known for his investments and properties in the Zvërnec area, remains wanted.
The Koçeku brothers' group, led by Luciano alias Artur Koçeku and his brother Abedin Koçeku, along with other family members, is also at the center of the investigation. The two brothers have been living in Dubai for years and are among the people against whom a security measure has been imposed.
Another well-known name who has ended up in jail is Orgest Bircaj, the owner of the company "Top Seven", which owned hundreds of luxury vehicles and has now been seized. Also on the wanted list are Erion Rama and his brother Adriani, grandson of Fatmir Rama, known as "Miri i Xhikes", killed on March 9, 2003 in the "Kartodrom" complex.
According to SPAK, Orest Sota, Erion and Adriani Rama, as well as other individuals, are considered part of the criminal group led by Alfredo Hamzai. This group, in collaboration with the organization of Luçiano Koçek, is suspected of having trafficked large amounts of cocaine to European countries for years. Security measures have been imposed on all members, while it remains unclear how many of them have been executed.
Security measures have also been imposed on Artur Shehu and his associate Leonard Bishaj, both suspected of money laundering. Investigations have uncovered three transactions worth a total of 128 million euros, related to the sale and purchase of land in Zvërnec, which have been blocked in the accounts of notary Amela Mukaj. Authorities have also seized hundreds of millions of lek suspected of being related to real estate transactions.
According to SPAK, the two criminal groups worked closely with each other, dividing roles and controlling the entire drug trafficking chain, from supply to transportation. Investigators estimate that the organizations trafficked over 6.7 tons of cocaine from Latin America to the European Union, mainly through the ports of Antwerp in Belgium and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The narcotics were hidden in containers with coal, fruit and soybeans, while on the market one kilogram of cocaine was sold at prices ranging from 26 thousand to 30 thousand euros.
The operation has also led to the seizure of a large number of assets. Numerous properties belonging to the company "Nova Construction" have been placed under seizure for the Koçek group and businessman Ilir Shtufi, including apartments, land, villas, complexes under construction, business activities and 31 bank accounts linked to Luçiano Koçek and his wife.
Considerable assets have also been frozen against the other group. Seven villas in Palasa have been seized from the grandchildren of “Miri të Xhike”, as well as 1.6 million euros gained from their sale, in addition to other properties and bank accounts. Meanwhile, 17 bank accounts, businesses and real estate have also been seized from Ardian Zykaj, described by investigators as an important figure in drug trafficking.
Among the hundreds of assets blocked by SPAK are a dinghy, dozens of vehicles and a number of commercial activities. Sources from the special investigative body have informed Report TV that the value of the suspected money laundered in Albania from drug trafficking activities exceeds 100 million euros.
Names involved in the operation
Ardian Zykaj, Alfredo Hamzai, Adrian Rama, Erjon Rama, Orgest Bircaj, Orest Sota, Elton Memeti, Arthur Shehu, Leonard Bishaj, Arben Ismailaj, Edmond Jaupi, Besnik Myftari, Dritan Aga, Luciano Koceku, Dino alias Abedin Koceku, Ervin Koceku, Astrit Vladi, Vladi Kastriot, Gezim Islami, Ilir Shtufi.
Full notice
"The Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organized Crime has primarily registered and conducted investigations within the framework of criminal proceedings no. 287/1, of 2021 for the criminal offenses:
"Laundering of proceeds of crime" carried out in the form of special cooperation, that of a structured criminal group
"Drug trafficking" carried out in the form of special cooperation with a structured criminal group
“Structured criminal group” and “Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization or structured criminal group”
Based on the request of the Special Prosecution Office, the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, by decision no. 31, dated 10.6.2026, has imposed the measure of compulsory personal security "Arrest in prison", provided for by Article 238 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for 15 Albanian citizens:
Ah,
AZ (aka GB, GT)
AR,
A.S.H.,
HE,
EM,
OB,
OS,
YES,
LK, (alias AK)
AV,
KV,
DK, (alias AK)
EC,
I.S.
as well as the security measure "House arrest" for 5 other citizens:
GI,
LB,
Come on,
BM,
IS
On 12.06.2026, the General Directorate of the State Police, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation, executed four security measures and searches for the execution of other security measures continue.
Greek law enforcement authorities have made it possible to capture citizen I.Sh., against whom the Court has imposed the security measure "Arrest in prison".
In implementation of court decisions, more than 50 inspections of persons, residences, offices of commercial companies and natural persons have been conducted.
International drug trafficking
As part of a wide-ranging investigation into international drug trafficking and the laundering of proceeds of crime, law enforcement authorities have documented the activities of a criminal network that is suspected of operating in several European and Latin American countries. According to the investigation, the persons under investigation AH and LK are suspected of having played a leading role in organizing international cocaine trafficking from Latin American countries to Europe, through the main ports of Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands. The investigation has identified an organized structure that included the supply, transport, storage, chemical processing and distribution of narcotics in various European countries.
From the investigative data it results that the persons under investigation O. B, OS, AR, EM, DA, AG and MM also collaborated in this activity, while connections and collaborations with foreign citizens and criminal groups operating in various countries have been documented.
One of the main episodes investigated is related to the seizure of 441 kilograms of cocaine in Barcelona, Spain, where several citizens involved in the transportation of the narcotic substance were arrested. The investigations also revealed other seizures of significant quantities of cocaine in the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom, which are suspected to be related to the activity of the criminal network under investigation.
Through the analysis of communications secured on the SKY ECC platform and telephone interceptions conducted during this investigation, accompanied by the examination of various documents and acts, the authorities have documented continuous contacts and coordination between the persons under investigation regarding the organization of international drug trafficking, the management of laboratories in Latin America, the transport of cargo and the distribution of narcotics on European markets. In parallel with the investigations into drug trafficking, reasonable suspicions of laundering the proceeds of crime have also been documented. According to the investigations, the persons under investigation AR, EM, ER, AH, AZ, L. K, OB and OS are suspected of having invested proceeds of criminal origin in real estate, construction projects and commercial companies.
The investigations have also revealed the involvement of the persons under investigation A.Sh, AI, BM and EJ in actions that allegedly served to conceal the origin of assets and integrate illegal income into the formal economy.
According to the prosecuting body, some of the suspected investments are related to properties and construction projects in Tirana, Palasë, Himara and other coastal areas, as well as to commercial companies used for the circulation and investment of funds suspected of originating from criminal activity.
Investigations continue in cooperation with international partner authorities to fully document the facts, identify other persons involved, and trace assets suspected of deriving from criminal activity.
Through decision 427, dated 12.6.2026, the Special Court of First Instance imposed preventive seizure on several assets, referring to sales contracts from citizens A.Sh, FS, BS to the company "A…L…D…sh.a". The amount of the preventive seizure amounts to over 128.4 million euros.
*During the investigations, the exact value of the seized assets will also be verified.
Through decision no. 432 act, dated 10.6.2026, the Special Court of First Instance has imposed preventive seizure on the assets:
Villa
Two villas in Gjileka, the Green Coast complex, Palasë Vlorë, as well as the value of 500.000 euros gained from the sale of these assets
A villa in Gjileka, Vlora, as well as the value of 200.000 euros, gained from the sale of this property
Two villas in Green Coast, Vlora, as well as the value of 680.000 euros gained from the sale of these two properties
A villa in Gjileka, Vlora, as well as the value of 220,710 euros gained from the sale of this property.
Two villas in Gjileka, Vlora, as well as the value of 506,467 euros, gained from the sale of these assets
Two villas in the Rolling Hills complex, Tirana
Seven villas and two apartments, located in Jalë, Vuno, Himarë
A villa, located in Gjileka, Vlora
Bank account:
336 bank accounts seized in various second-tier banks.
The amounts that must be seized from commercial companies could reach a value of over 6.2 million euros and 9 million lek.
Preventive seizure has also been imposed on the right of citizens A.Sh, MC, Xh.D and EA to benefit from the expropriation value from the Special Commission for Expropriation, as co-owners of this property. The preliminary expropriation value is 352,859,661 lek.
Plot:
The property, located in Sallmone, Shijak, and the amount of 58.000.000 lek, received from the sale.
Property of the "land" type, located in Saranda.
11 properties with a total area of over 113.000 m2, located in Gjileka, Vlora.
Property of the type "land", Street: Dervish Hima, with a total area of 315.2 m2, Tirana.
Limited liability company:
Limited liability company, “K…83”, headquartered in Tirana
Limited Liability Company, “K…83” headquartered in Pristina, Kosovo and all its bank accounts.
Limited Liability Company, “A…F… P…”, Tirana and all assets owned by it.
The company “P….I….”, together with all the assets it owns.
The company “T… S”, headquartered in Tirana, as well as the registered assets owned by it (excluding the company “T…S..C.”, owned by the same administrator)
Hotel:
“AP… B”, located in Lungomare, Vlora
Vessels:
Floating vehicle, length 13.8 ml, width 3.5 ml.
Inflatable boat, length 09.60 ml, width 03.73 ml.
Vehicles
Vehicle type Audi S8
Mercedes Benz, G-Class model.
As well as the equivalent of 15.000 euros, seized in a bank account, obtained from the sale of a "Land Rover" vehicle.
Through decision no. 435 act, dated 10.6.2026, the Special Court of First Instance has imposed preventive seizure on the assets:
Real estate with a total area of 2000 m2, in Green Coast.
Real estate with a total area of 478.7 m2, Gjilekë, Vlorë.
Real rights and immovable properties in the amount of 43% of these rights for the entity “N…C…. G…”, located in Tirana
38% of the real rights of the construction surfaces for the facility, located in Tirana, owned by LK
Four apartments and a warehouse, located in Tirana (with investor “N…C…. G…”)
38 apartments located in Tirana (with investors “D…. C” and “N…C….G…”)
23 apartments, located in Tirana.
106 garages, located in Tirana.
A service unit with an area of 201.3 m2, Tirana.
6 real estate properties, located in Kodër-Kamëz, Tirana, owned by the person under investigation LK as well as GI, LI
2 vehicles; a Lamborghini and a Mercedes Benz
30% of the shares of the company, “U..C” LTD shpk, owned by the person under investigation LK
The seizure of the commercial company "M…. B… shpk" as well as the real estate where it carries out its activity and every bank account in second-tier banks has been ordered.
The seizure of the commercial company "G... I", its assets and any bank accounts in second-tier banks has been ordered.
The seizure of "I.... G" as well as any accounts that these entities have in all second-tier banks has been ordered.
The Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime thanks the French, Belgian, Spanish, Italian, British, Greek judicial authorities, Eurojust, and Europol for their cooperation in the investigation of this criminal proceeding.
