The Sspecial Court against Corruption (GJKKO) upheld Sunday pretrial detention for three suspects accused of involvement in a vast international cocaine trafficking and money laundering network, while granting more lenient measures to two others linked to the investigation.

It ruled that Orgest Birçaj, Dritan Aga and Orest Sota will remain in custody under the measure of “arrest in prison.” Edmond Jaupi was placed under house arrest, while Gëzim Islami was released on a financial guarantee of approximately €100,000.

The hearing followed a large-scale operation carried out by Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK), which targeted two criminal organizations suspected of orchestrating major cocaine trafficking routes between Latin America and Europe and laundering the proceeds through investments in Albania.

According to prosecutors, the criminal network trafficked more than 6.7 metric tons of cocaine from Latin America to ports in Belgium, the Netherlands and other European Union countries. Investigators allege that the organizations were led by Luçiano Koçeku and Alfredo Hamzai, who are described in court documents as the central figures behind the operation.

Authorities say the network established a sophisticated logistical chain stretching from cocaine production sites in Ecuador and Colombia to storage and processing facilities in Belgium and the Netherlands. The narcotics were allegedly concealed within shipments of coal, fruit and soy products before entering European markets.

SPAK alleges that Orgest Birçaj, owner of the travel company Top Seven, played a role in facilitating the movement of Albanian workers to cocaine-processing laboratories in Ecuador through his travel agency. Orest Sota and several other suspects are accused of participating in various stages of drug trafficking and distribution activities.

The operation, launched on June 12, resulted in 20 court-approved security measures. Among those implicated in the investigation is businessman Ilir Shtufi, who was arrested in Greece, as well as Artur Shehu, who remains wanted by authorities.

Prosecutors believe that profits generated from the trafficking operation were subsequently invested in construction companies, real estate projects and other commercial ventures in an effort to conceal the origin of the funds.

As part of the investigation, authorities have seized 18 villas, 336 bank accounts, multiple companies, apartments, luxury vehicles and properties located in Tirana, Palasë, Jalë, Himarë and other regions of Albania. Prosecutors say one suspected real estate transaction involving property in Zvërnec alone is valued at approximately €128 million.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue efforts to identify additional assets and individuals allegedly connected to what prosecutors describe as one of the largest organized crime and money laundering cases uncovered in Albania in recent years.