Azdren Muharremi, a 48-year-old Albanian, has been identified as the leader of a criminal group trafficking drugs from Latin America to Greece.
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| Azdren Qazim Muharremi alias Jasona Panajot Mërkuri, and Andrea Panajot Mërkuri |
A major drug bust occurred recently in the port of Piraeus, Greece, where authorities seized 210 kilograms of cocaine originating from Panama, destined for Albania. Muharremi, hailing from Patos, Albania, had operated under three different aliases: Azdren Qazim Muharremi, Jasona Panajot Mërkuri, and Andrea Panajot Mërkuri, local media say.
In Greece, Muharremi was known as Andrea, under which he had been previously arrested for drug offenses in Turkey and had been sentenced in Greece to 20 years in prison and a 100,000-euro fine for drug trafficking. He had been wanted since 2017 under the name Jasona Mërkuri.
Additionally, Muharremi owned a clothing business on “Rruga e Durrësit” in Tirana, registered in May 2015 under his last known identity. During a raid on his residence, authorities found a pistol with 15 bullets, 129,375 euros, and 30 pounds.
Another individual arrested in connection with this operation is Marsel Stafaj, a 36-year-old from Tirana, known in Greece as “Majk,” residing illegally in Kalithea, Athens. Stafaj was found with 1,800 euros in his possession.