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The European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol, has published its second report on criminal networks threatening the old continent.
Two years after the publication of the first report "Decoding the EU's Most Threatening Criminal Networks", Europol brings another overview of these groups, where the Albanian mafia plays an important role.
The report highlights that Albanian criminal networks are established in Latin America and continue to benefit from their connections with drug cartels.
The report estimates that the Albanian mafia may be moving multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Latin America to Europe. Among the crimes analyzed are financial ones. In this regard, call center fraud in Albania occupies an important place in the Europol report.
The role of Albanian networks in Latin America
The Italian 'Ndrangheta has created extensive cocaine trafficking routes in Latin America and uses Albanian criminal networks to oversee these deals on the ground.
As a result, it has managed to establish a dominant position in drug trafficking from Latin America, ensuring complete control over the entire criminal process, from source to final distribution.
Several Albanian criminal networks are established in Latin America and continue to benefit from their ongoing relationships with drug cartels.
Other criminal networks from the Western Balkans have also expanded their participation in international cocaine trafficking.
Albanian drug trafficking network that collaborated with other criminal networks
An Albanian criminal network, organized on a clan basis, dealt with cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
The network organized multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Latin America to major European ports, operating on a global scale.
To carry out these large transports, the network collaborated with many other criminal organizations, both within and outside the European Union.
The network leader coordinated shipments from remote locations, using encrypted means of communication.
Criminal network linked to the "Los Lobos" cartel
A drug trafficking network, linked to the Ecuadorian Los Lobos cartel, was the subject of an international investigation.
The network was run by a person considered a high-value target for the authorities.
He used fruit export companies as a cover for illegal activities, hiding drugs inside legitimate shipments.
Alerts about suspicious containers led to concentrated checks and seizures in major European ports. The Ecuadorian network collaborated with an Albanian criminal network.
Members of this Albanian network regularly traveled to Ecuador to negotiate deals.
Criminal cells operating in various European countries dealt with the logistics and further distribution of drugs within the European Union.
Professionally organized call centers involved in investment fraud
A criminal network engaged in a large-scale online fraud scheme operated several call centers in Albania.
These centers were professionally organized, with a clear division of tasks between specialized teams, coordinated by team leaders and senior management. In total, they employed about 450 people.
Ads on social networks and search engines promoted investment platforms that appeared legitimate.
Potential victims were contacted by call center agents, often in their native language, to gain their trust. Once they registered on the platform, they were persuaded to transfer additional amounts of money.
The victims were located throughout Europe and other countries around the world, while the total financial damage is estimated to have been at least 50 million euros.
This criminal network was dismantled in 2026, after an international investigation that lasted two years.
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