Albanian smuggling gangs are increasingly employing frogmen to retrieve cocaine hidden beneath cargo ships, showcasing an evolution in their trafficking methods. Traditionally, traffickers have concealed drugs within container vessels, later using smaller boats to transport them ashore. The introduction of specialized divers indicates that these gangs are refining their techniques to evade detection. In 2023, six individuals, including five men and a woman, were arrested in Norway after attempting to retrieve over 150 kg of cocaine concealed in a ship’s water intake vent.
This method, known as “parasite” smuggling, eliminates the need to bribe ship crews, as the drugs are placed inside a vessel’s ‘sea chest’ in South America. The packages, equipped with Apple AirTags for tracking, can be retrieved by divers from over a kilometer away. Italian anti-narcotics chief Leonardo Landi noted that often, the ship’s crew is unaware that their vessel is being used for drug transport. Gangs pay divers substantial sums for the risky task, which involves navigating around ship propellers.
Albanian criminal organizations have increasingly dominated Europe’s cocaine trade, establishing direct connections with South American cartels to secure larger quantities at lower prices. Their collaboration with the Italian ‘Ndrangheta has further solidified their reputation for reliability and professionalism. A recent Home Office report labeled Albanian gangs as a significant threat in the UK, highlighting their prevalence in organized crime, including violent offenses.
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