Europol arrested 19 people for their participation in an organized network of Albanian drug traffickers, according to a statement the law enforcement agency released Thursday. The arrests took place in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Albania. The accused are primarily Albanian nationals.
The operation came after more than two years of investigation into the group's activities. That investigation began in Italy in 2010, led by an Anti-Mafia Prosecution office, and culminated in an international effort.
The Albanian Organized Crime groups constitute one of the most expanding and networked criminal groups in Europe, according to Europol.