Recent investigations leveraging data from encrypted messaging platforms Sky ECC and EncroChat have uncovered significant details about illegal activities orchestrated by criminal groups in Greece, with several Albanians identified among the culprits, Euronews Albania reports.
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A Web of Illicit Drug Trafficking
One case involves a 45-year-old Albanian man, previously convicted in Greece for cocaine trafficking. Despite his incarceration, he maintained active communication with an ex-Athens anti-drug officer, collaborating on further drug trafficking ventures. Among their exchanges, the former officer requested 10 kilograms of cocaine for a relative and sought 100 kilograms of marijuana monthly for a Greek associate.
Control from Behind Bars
The investigations also revealed that Sandër Pemaj, though imprisoned, continued to direct illicit operations from his cell. Transcribed conversations showed his involvement in coordinating drug trafficking outside prison walls.
Links to Explosive Assassinations
The case files also shed light on the activities of Aleksandër Sadikaj, who was killed in a car bombing in Tirana. Sadikaj was deeply entrenched in the drug trade, reportedly trafficking 295 kilograms of marijuana in two separate incidents within a single month.
Arrests and Further Investigations
Greek authorities have arrested 24 individuals, including 14 Albanians, and have issued search warrants for seven others. These individuals face charges for trafficking approximately 2 tons of marijuana and over 43 kilograms of cocaine. The wealth of evidence obtained from encrypted platforms has also unraveled conflicts between two rival Albanian criminal groups operating in Greece, led by Ari Papë and Aleksandër Sadikaj.
A Turning Point in Crime Detection
The access to Sky ECC and EncroChat communications marks a turning point in the fight against organized crime, enabling law enforcement to penetrate the previously impenetrable world of criminal networks. As Greek authorities continue their investigations, more arrests and revelations are anticipated, potentially dismantling these syndicates further.
The revelations serve as a stark reminder of the extensive reach of transnational crime and the critical role of modern technology in uncovering and combating such networks.