61 arrested in raids on Albanian-Italian cannabis network
A major Italian police operation coordinated by Catania prosecutors broke up a marijuana trafficking network running from Albania to Italy, with 61 arrests including 37 Albanian citizens. Ragusa police and the Guardia di Finanza seized a tonne of marijuana and firearms in the operation's most significant action.
Catania prosecutors coordinated a massive Italian police operation that crippled a marijuana trafficking network moving narcotics from Albania to Italy, netting 61 arrests including 37 Albanian citizens.[1]The operation, codenamed “The Balkans”, followed investigations launched in 2012 in which several police forces across Italy worked together to identify the suspects.[1]
Seizure
The most significant action was carried out by Ragusa police and Como’s Guardia di Finanza, who seized a tonne of marijuana and firearms used by the criminal group.[1]Investigators said their initially separate inquiries had been joined into a single file that identified the Albanian suppliers.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Carabinieri of the Falerone station arrested a 41-year-old local woman in her home on information about a dealing activity, wounding one officer in a finger. The search, aided by a Guardia di Finanza dog unit, seized over 95 grams of marijuana, over 66 grams of hashish and 22 marijuana branches; she was taken to Pesaro prison.
State Police stopped a 19-year-old in Piazzale Marconi by Reggio Emilia’s historic station on 11 November 2026. Officers seized about 20 grams of hashish plus cocaine, a phone and 65 euros, and arrested him for suspected possession for dealing.
Police stopped a car carrying five men in via di Grotta di Gregna, in the Colli Aniene area of eastern Rome, and found ten blocks of hashish weighing about one kilogram in two shopping bags. All five were arrested for possession for dealing, and 7,110 euros in cash was seized.
State Police arrested a 48-year-old Italian man in Sesto San Giovanni after finding about 2 kg of hashish in a shopping bag near his home. A search found 50 grams of marijuana and cash; a Monza court validated the arrest and ordered him to report to the judicial police.
