Salvatore alias Shpëtim Aliu, wanted by Albanian justice and considered by SPAK as one of the key figures in cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Albania, was arrested today in Russia, with the aim of extradition to Albania.
Salvadore Aliu, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued by SPAK, considered the "godfather" of Albanian drug trafficking groups suspected of trafficking 50 tons of cocaine. He is suspected of having laundered at least 30 million euros in Albania obtained from criminal activities. Aliu was the person who played a universal role in the entire drug trafficking scheme, serving as a supply link.
The key figure appears to have been his brother, Isa Aliu (pictured above), who officially has 4 different companies used for investments in the purchase of real estate, villas, apartments, land, or even in the construction of hotels in tourist areas of the country.
Salvadore, like other leaders of criminal groups, used the SKY platform for his communications, where he was known by various names such as "Dala", "Qero", "Qerosi", "Viktori" or "Albo Pelon".
From the revelation of these communications, in a conversation in August 2020, with brother Isa Aliu, the latter informs him that he had 6 million euros in cash. Two weeks later, Salvadore informs Isa that he will receive another 20 million euros. While waiting for the money to be invested to be cleaned, he instructs his brother on how to hide the money, suggesting, among other things, putting it in a 50-liter barrel and then burying it.
The investigation that led to the discovery and identification of Salvadore Aliu began in May 2020, following a referral from the police. He and people with family connections are suspected of being involved in the international trafficking of cocaine from Ecuador to European countries.
In the network that also included foreigners, Salvatore has been identified as having played the role of leader, overseeing every link in the trafficking, from securing cocaine, to financing shipments and supplying other groups.
He was the central figure who supplied cocaine to the groups of Shpëtim Gjika, Eldi Dizdari and Armando Pacani. Salvatore Aliu is suspected by SPAK of supplying drugs to several Albanian criminal groups, including the Çopjave organization. /LAPSI.al
