Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court has unanimously approved Albania’s request for the extradition of Ervin Mata, an Albanian national wanted in connection with an investigation into drug trafficking and organized crime.

The decision was issued by the court’s First Panel following a virtual session held from August 14 to 21. Brazilian judges found that the documents submitted by Albanian authorities met the legal requirements for extradition, while stressing that the ruling does not determine whether Mata is guilty of the charges against him.

The extradition request concerns criminal proceedings in Albania involving allegations of drug trafficking, cooperation and participation in a structured criminal group. The court also determined that the principle of dual criminality applies, that the alleged offenses have not expired under the statute of limitations and that there are no legal barriers to extradition.

Mata will not, however, be transferred to Albania automatically. The final decision on his surrender rests with Brazil’s president, while Albania must provide the guarantees required under Brazilian law, including assurances concerning the charges for which he may be prosecuted, credit for time spent in detention in Brazil and protection against torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

According to documents cited in the case, evidence from Sky ECC communications also forms part of the file. In messages from 2020, a user identified by the authorities as Mata allegedly discussed the shipment of 250 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to Frankfurt, Germany, and later referred to the seizure of the shipment at Frankfurt customs.

Mata has been wanted internationally since 2023 following an investigation by Albania’s Special Prosecutor’s Office into an alleged criminal network involved in cocaine and cannabis trafficking, killings and money laundering. He is also known in Albania in connection with the 2018 shooting in Tirana’s former Blloku district, in which Fabian Gaxha was killed.

The Brazilian court’s ruling clears a major legal hurdle for his extradition, but his actual transfer to Albania remains dependent on the next steps by Brazilian authorities.