Albanian authorities have recently dismantled a highly organized human trafficking ring operating in the capital city of Tirana, following complaints from local residents. The network involved 44 Colombian women, suspected of being exploited for prostitution. Their frequent and suspicious comings and goings, along with those of their clients, prompted residents of the apartment complexes — where the women were renting through Airbnb — to report the matter to the Tirana police.
Based on these reports, the Anti-Trafficking sector launched an investigation that uncovered a meticulously planned operation orchestrated by a 47-year-old Colombian woman named Gabriela Martinez. According to A2 CNN, Martinez remains at large alongside two other accomplices. Of the 11 arrest warrants issued, only eight were executed as of Friday.
The Mechanism of the Exploitation Scheme
After five months of investigation, authorities discovered that Gabriela Martinez ran a travel agency in Colombia. Through this front, she allegedly lured women aged 18 to 35 to Albania under false promises of legitimate employment opportunities. Martinez would invest in the women’s appearance, reportedly funding plastic surgeries, but demanded they repay her up to €4,000 upon arrival.
Several of the women were then registered on high-end escort websites, where they connected with clients who paid between €200 and €250 per meeting. The women were required to hand over their earnings to Martinez. Once their debts were settled, the remaining profits were split among them. The network’s financial transactions were complex, with funds reportedly sent to Martinez in Colombia — sometimes through Bitcoin — to evade detection.
Local Connections and Corruption
Investigators revealed that Martinez had built a network of trusted local collaborators to facilitate the operation. One key figure was Esmerald Sulollari, a taxi driver who allegedly helped coordinate the women's arrivals and provided logistical support. When Sulollari was arrested, authorities found incriminating conversations with Martinez on his phone.
The scandal deepened with the involvement of law enforcement. Anisa Brahaj, a crime officer from Police Station No. 4 in Tirana, is accused of protecting the operation. Reports suggest she assured Martinez that no police checks would occur at the locations where the women were working. Moreover, she allegedly promised to intervene and secure the women’s release if they were ever detained by authorities.
This case exposes not only the extent of human trafficking operations in Albania but also the dangerous intersection of organized crime and police corruption. As the search for Martinez continues, Albanian authorities face mounting pressure to dismantle remaining elements of the network and ensure accountability for those complicit in the exploitation.
The investigation is ongoing, with more arrests expected in the coming weeks.