Drug lord Kevin Kurti returned after capture in Albania

Durres – Kevin Kurti, 37, an international wanted man and one of the main suspects in the drug trafficking investigation called “Champions League”, landed this morning at Rome Fiumicino airport from Durres.

His capture, which took place in Albania last February 5th, marks an important success in the fight against international drug trafficking.

The escape and the “Champions League” investigation

Kurti had escaped arrest on January 17, when the Carabinieri of the Investigative Unit of Naples executed a custodial detention order issued by the GIP of the Court of Naples, at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate.

The man is involved, together with 28 other suspects, in a large-scale drug trafficking from Holland and Spain to the most flourishing drug dealing centers in the province of Naples. The management of the drug trafficking took place through chats and encrypted phones, initially considered "unassailable" by the police.

Kurti's capture in Durres took place on the night of February 5, thanks to a joint operation by the Albanian State Police, the Carabinieri of the Investigative Unit of Naples, the Service for International Police Cooperation of the Central Directorate of Criminal Police and Europol.

Today the 37-year-old was handed over by the Albanian authorities to the Italian ones, in execution of the order of the GIP of Naples. Kurti was therefore subjected to the precautionary measure of house arrest at the disposal of the DDA of Naples.

Two criminal organizations in the crosshairs

The “Champions League” investigation has revealed the existence and operation of two distinct criminal organizations in the Neapolitan territory. Although they were not functionally connected to each other, they shared the same supply channel for drugs, mainly cocaine and hashish, managed from Spain.

Kevin Kurti's return to Italy is a fundamental step towards continuing the investigation and further dismantling the international drug trafficking network.