The Albanian criminal group is destroyed in Belgium, 18 people are captured by the police, 30 cars and thousands of euros are seized

An Albanian criminal group was destroyed yesterday in Belgium. 18 people ended up behind bars. According to foreign media, the group is suspected to be related to the cocaine and cannabis traffic, over 160 police officers participated in the operation. Police carried out 21 checks in Liège, Seraing, Saint-Nicolas, Grâce-Hollogne, Jemeppe, Verviers, Marche-en-Famenne, Houffalize and Morlanëlz, foreign media reported. "The action made it possible to confirm the existence of a well-organized traffic of cocaine and cannabis in a period of at least four years", continues the Prosecutor. The organization, which used Sky ECC encrypted mobile phones until March 2021, continued its activities throughout the greater Liège union and in Luxembourg (Marche-en-Famenne, Houffalize)" The suspects have their headquarters in Antwerp and the Netherlands with kilos of cocaine. "During the intervention, many concrete elements related to the criminal activities of the organization and the suspects were discovered." The police also announced that they have seized: Cocaine with 800 grams and cutting products packed in a crate; Dozens of cocaine cartridges distributed at different addresses but also in the hoods of some vehicles; Equipment for the packaging and sale of cocaine; A cannabis plantation with a capacity of +/- 600 plants was discovered in Verviers as well as plantation equipment and remains in Houffalize and Jemeppe; 33 assets yet to be evaluated, but valued at +€300,000; Bundles of banknotes for an amount of more than €30,000 in cash; Assets confiscated from the accounts in the value of nearly €70,000; A Rolex watch, flat screen televisions, luxury goods (Vuitton goods); False Italian and Slovenian documents; Five people were arrested on March 20 for drug trafficking and participation in a criminal organization. Six other suspects will appear on March 21 in the court of inquiry for a possible placement under arrest warrant.