Italy arrests Albanian drug traffickers

MILAN, Italy, July 26 – Italian police arrested 58 persons, mostly of Albanian origin, and seized 80 kilograms of drugs (heroin, cocaine and marijuana), thwarting two clandestine laboratories for drug packaging and also arresting an Albanian fugitive.
The investigation of the network had started in 2005 with the arrest of 32 persons for trafficking of a narcotic substance. They conducted telephone tapping and focused in the area of Milan, where they had arrested eight drug dealers and seized five kilos of drugs.
In October 2006, investigations moved to other regions and followed with the arrest of 22 persons in Piacenza, Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, Teramo and Catania, also seizing 35 kilograms of drugs.
The drugs followed a route often used to transport between Albania and Italy, inside the truck tires.
Italian police worked closely with the Albanian police.