The presence of men from Albania in countries where drug production and trafficking cartels operate in Latin America is not a new phenomenon, so the question is: what interests do they have in Mexico?
Since the 2000s, members of the so-called “Albanian mafia” have traveled to this side of the “pond” with the aim of expanding their businesses in Europe, according to information from the BBC.
In this way, these groups have established connections with cartels and drug groups in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. According to Alessandro Ford, a researcher at Insight CrimeAlbanian criminal clans have a specific reason for establishing themselves in Latin America: the acquisition of cocaine at lower prices.
Unlike the Latino cartels, the Albanians do not require large contingents of men or high caliber weapons to operate in the region.
“Their function is to be business connectors, close deals, logistical issues. But you will never see [en América Latina] an armed convoy of the Albanian mafia, except for guards offering protection,” he explains to the BBC Víctor Sánchez, a Mexican investigator who studies organized crime.
Throughout Europe there are several clans of this mafia. The most prominent is Kompania Bello, whose influence has spread to countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany.
Who are the allies of the Albanian mafia?
One of the latest events that has drawn attention is the association between a wing of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, led by Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambadaand members of the hysa brothers clan.
This association has the objective of money laundering and has been established through the creation of shell companies in various states of Mexico, according to reports from the Security Cabinet of the Mexican Government.
“With their help, they created front companies – casinos, restaurants, and an export company – in the states of Baja California, Quintana Roo and Sonora, according to intelligence documents,” says the BBC.
Researcher Víctor Sánchez believes that the association between the Albanians and the Mexican organizations is logical due to the Albanians’ prowess in money laundering. In addition, he presumes that the sale of drugs was the factor that originated the contact between both parties.
“To have a good relationship with the Mexican organizations, they can help them with money laundering. But surely what generated the contact was the sale of drugs,” Sánchez considers.
Thus, the countries of Latin America offer favorable conditions for the businesses of the Albanian mafia, such as the clan of the Hysa brothers.
