The show "Në Shënjestër" published this Tuesday new details from SPAK's investigative file on international drug trafficking. An investigation launched in 2024, where the main name involved in this trafficking turns out to be Plaurent Dervishaj, a well-known figure in the criminal sphere in Albania, who was extradited from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, as the main person involved in the assassination of Durrës prosecutor Arjan Ndoji, in November 2019, at the Shkozet overpass.
Where the driver Andi Maloku was killed and his friend, Aleksandër Laho, known as 'Rrumi', was seriously injured. But surprisingly, immediately after this assassination, he appears in 2020 as involved in international drug trafficking.
Together with his fire team, but also with others who appear on stage for the first time. Who, as will be seen in various episodes throughout 2020 of drug trafficking from South America to Europe, have a key role in this business.
"Në Shënjestër" published the decrypted conversations from the Sky Ecc platform, which helped SPAK, through their French and Belgian partners, prove the characters' connection to international drug trafficking throughout 2020.
A discovery that came after endless drug shipments were being intercepted at the main ports of Belgium and the Netherlands, known as the main receiving ports for large narcotics shipments, which took the transoceanic route hidden in containers and then landed in Europe's drug-hungry market.
But who were these two well-known figures of crime in Albania, who are now behind bars, initially for various reasons related to their criminal activity and today with a new charge added as participants in international drug trafficking and collaboration within a structured criminal group?
What brought them together in 2020, in what is known as the first documented episode of their collaboration in this trafficking? Who are their collaborators, whom we will dwell on at length, who stand out for their role?
In cooperation with Europol, in the context of the 'Aspretto' operation, the Special Prosecution Office has been informed about several persons involved in the trafficking of cocaine-type narcotics in significant quantities from South American countries to EU countries, carried out by Albanian and foreign citizens.
Trafficking which is carried out using containers with fruit, industrial products and consumer products. Narcotics which result from being taken out of the border point (the seaport of Antwerp, Belgium), using the recruitment of security personnel who are employed within this port.
The first documented episode of trafficking these narcotics shipments is related to the collaboration between a group of 7 people. Among others, the names of Plaurent Dervishaj and Erion Alibej stand out. As well as Artur Hoxhosmani, his brother Klevis, Ermir Ndreaj, Devid Patrut and Ilir Lloshi.
These latter names are appearing on the scene for the first time but had a dominant role in this trade and played important roles, with values that ran into millions of euros.
According to SPAK, it all starts with what is known as the first episode of the seizure of a shipment of 852 packages of cocaine with a total weight of 989.1 kg, seized at the port of Antwerp in Belgium.
One of the main ports of entry for cocaine in Europe, widely used by Albanian criminal groups. This is where the name of Ermir Ndreaj comes to the fore, who seems to have a close partnership with Plaurent Dervishaj, as well as with other people in international drug trafficking.
This is also evident in their communications later revealed on the Sky Ecc platform. Conversations that date back to the time period between March and June 2020.
In one of these communications, Plaurent Dervishaj asks one of his interlocutors to transport 188 bags of cocaine from the port city of Santa Marta in Colombia to the port of Antwerp in Belgium.
This is where another accomplice, now identified as Artur Hoxhosmani, would come into play. But what stands out in the conversations that Plaurent Dervishaj has with his associates is the fact that the criminal group was able to recruit corrupt customs officers within the seaports who would take over the unhindered removal of drug shipments.
Devishaj even makes sure that his interlocutor is careful with the contact he gives him, because according to him, they are very serious people at work. Therefore, he does not want to lose them.
Is it possible to get from Santa Marta to Antwerp with bags?
Yes. This brother is super strong.
If you think about it, I'll give you the contact information so you can clarify things better.
With a worker inside, brother, and security.
Brother, stay here without worry.
These are serious at work and I don't want to lose them, they are very accurate. I guarantee you this.
And apparently the day when the first drug shipment would cross the port in Colombia, through his trusted people, will not be long in coming.
Where initially it is about 300 packages of drugs. This communication is dated March 7, 2020.
But what happens next seems to drive both the leader of the criminal group and his associates crazy.
Then on April 30, 2020, Plaurent Dervishaj confirmed to an interlocutor that just two days earlier, their drug shipment of 811 pieces, which he said was his, had been seized by Belgian police.
And what had upset him even more was the fact that this was the sixth consecutive load that was being lost in this way.
Conversation where Plaurent Dervishaj also reveals the origin of the drugs. According to him, they came from Ecuador. Where, along with the lost cargo, the truck driver was also arrested. Drugs that were hidden in wooden pallets.
Continuous communications, which also led to Plaurent Dervishaj's close connection with Artur Hoxhosmani.
Who maintain constant contact with each other throughout the entire operation to load the narcotics onto the ship that would then dock in the port of Antwerp in Belgium.
Conversations on Sky Ecc
Two weeks ago, 300 pieces were released.
I'm a little bored, I got a job two days ago, 811 pieces.
There were 6 roads in a row that are not passable.
It's not being understood.
Ecuador, with wooden pallets
If 4 tons were caught two days ago, they put all the ships on the scanner.
Yes, everything was ok, but luckily for me.
Yes, that's how this job works.
The police stopped that van driver.
Even the main one is in prison in Spain.
I got what I told you in Belgium, 811 pieces.
It's been over a month, brother, I had it with a signature, on a wooden pallet.
Despite these successive failures in smuggling drugs to Europe, Dervishaj and Hoxhosmani continue to make plans on how they can find other alternatives to once again re-enter the narcotics business.
This is already being tested with smaller quantities.
But at the same time as the shipment that was seized from Plaurent Dervishaj, it turns out that the quantity of drugs belonging to Artur Hoxhosmani was also seized in Belgium.
Which was in the same position as that of Dervishaj, or 'old man Matuf' as he was and was nicknamed.
This involves a combined quantity of four tons of drugs.
Meanwhile, in their communications on Sky Ecc, they also talk about the behavior of the truck driver who would transport the drugs after passing the port of Antwerp.
Who, upon seeing the port control police and their order to put the truck through the scanner, reportedly threw the phone encrypted with the Sky Ecc app into the sea.
This is where Erion Alibej's name comes up during the conversations.
As well as his role in this episode of cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe.
Today, witness to justice.
Conversations on Sky Ecc
Erion Alibej talks to Plaurent Dervishaj
They let the driver get away, I believe they are guarding him.
Now I believe they will take the box to the company and wait.
The state will notify the company that has the goods inside.
They haven't even communicated anything to the company.
Don't worry, he said we're at zero, we'll recover very soon.
Where he asks the latter if he had the container number and which cargo had been seized,
This after learning the news of the seizure of a shipment of 9 boxes.
As Ndreaj himself says in his communication with his interlocutor, a quantity of 809 pieces of narcotics was seized from him and its transportation was to be done through a company.
Conversations on Sky Ecc
Ermir Ndreaj talks to Artur Hoxhosmani
Do you have the container number?
Yes, which one? There are 9 boxes.
Did you get any work done again?
And I have 809 pieces, signed.
This was later confirmed by law enforcement agencies, who, in the intersection of evidence, the conversation that took place, and the time of the seizure of the quantity of the Markot substance, concluded that Ermir Ndreaj was one of the drug orderers who would pass through the port of Antwerp, along with Plaurent Dervishaj, Artur Hoxhosman and others.
Drugs that, as we said, could not cross the port barrier after being seized by the local police.
