Italian Guardia di Finanza has seized about 2500 kilograms of marijuana about 380 kilograms of hashish, about 50 kilograms of cocaine, about 25 kilograms of heroin, munitions, hashish oil, cash, luxury vehicles, rafts and other vessels from January 2020 until the end of November 2020 from Albanian criminal groups operating between Albania and Italy, the local media reported Thursday.

The value of the seized drugs exceeds several million of EUR and this amount is multiplied by the seizures carried out during other operations of the Anti-Mafia, Anti-Drugs and the Italian Police that led to the uncovering of narcotics trafficking from Albania to Italy and other European countries, and in the arrest of Albanian drug traffickers.

However, most of the narcotics originating from Albania have been trafficked by sea and apart from the marijuana and hashish boats, during 2020 the trafficking of heavy drugs such as cocaine and heroin has not been stopped.

According to the official documentation provided by RTV Ora, on January 21, 2020, an operation of the Italian Guardia di Finanza led to the seizure of 16.3 kg of heroin launched from Albania through the ferry line Durrës-Ancona. The drugs were hidden in the vehicle of a 37-year-old Albanian courier, along with a quantity of cash. A few days later, on February 13, 2020, another 32-year-old Albanian was handcuffed by the Guardia di Finanza of Verona, and 10 kg of cocaine worth 2 million euros were seized.

Another 25 kg of cocaine were seized during the operation codenamed "Besa" in Trento, executed on March 5, 2020, which documented the trafficking of another 10 kg of cocaine.

On April 10, 2020 in the port of Bari in a vehicle driven by an Albanian citizen who arrived with the ferry Durrës-Bari, the Guardia di Finanza seized 12 kg of cocaine and 8 kg of heroin and only a few days ago on November 24, 2020 in the territory of the province of Bari, during a road check, the Italian Financial Police seized 2.3 kg of cocaine in a vehicle driven by a 40-year-old Albanian.

Nevertheless, Covid 19 pandemic could not stop even the boats with drugs launched from Albania. The route of drug trafficking through the Adriatic remains one of the most frequented by Albanian traffickers.

On February 19, 2020, an operation of the Guardia di Finanza of Lecce led to the capture of a boat with drugs launched from Albania where 450 kg of marijuana, 75 kg of hashish, 3.5 liters of hashish oil and weapons and ammunition were seized.

Afterwards, on April 28, 2020, another operation of the Guardia di Finanza in Bari, will lead to the capture of a raft launched from Albania with about 900 kg of drugs; 646 kg of marijuana and 250 kg of hashish with a value of 10 million euros.

On May 18, 2020 in the territorial waters of Bari, the Guardia di Finanza would seize boats launched from Albania with 5 million euros worth of drugs worth 546 kg of marijuana and 17 kg of hashish seized.

Less than a month later, on June 7, 2020, in the territorial waters of Puglias, the Guardia di Finanza of Bari would seize the boat that started from Albania with 300 kg of marijuana and 26 kg of hashish and would handcuff the Albanian sailor.

One week later on June 15, 2020 the Guardia di Finanza of Lecce would seize rafts with 350 kg of marijuana worth about 3.5 million euros. Three skiers, 2 Albanians and 1 Italian will be handcuffed on charges of international drug trafficking. 

On its part, in 2019 Italy has logged the record of cocaine seizure verified during the last 10 years and most of this amount was trafficked for interest or through the mediation of Albanian traffickers in cooperation with the Italian mafia and organized crime.