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Wanted international drug kingpin arrested in Dubai

Dubai - He was involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations between South America and Europe.

The Dubai Police have arrested Denis Matoshi, a leader of the Albanian-speaking "Kompania Bello" gang, a transnational organised crime syndicate involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations between South America and Europe with an estimated street value of 350 million euros (Dh1.523 billion).

As part of an international operation code-named 'Los Blancos', Dubai Police arrested the suspect who is wanted by the Italian authorities on charges of criminal complicity and leading a drug-trafficking gang at an international level. The operation, which involved the anti-drug departments of 10 countries, resulted in apprehending 20 wanted gang leaders in a synchronised series of raids last Tuesday.

Colonel Saeed Al Qamzi, director of the Wanted Persons Department at Dubai Police, said they placed the suspect under close surveillance over several days before receiving the Red Notice against him.

"Upon exchanging information with the Italian authorities, we identified the drug kingpin whereabouts and monitored his daily movements and apprehended him as soon as we received the Red Notice", Col. Al Qamzi added.

Colonel Al Qamzi noted that Matoshi is wanted by the Italian authorities on charges of leading an organised criminal gang responsible for drug trafficking operations.

"Along with other gang leaders, the suspect managed to smuggle and transport hundreds of tons of drugs to Europe through seaports and sold them to drug users," Col Al Qamzi explained.

Col Al Qamzi pointed out that Matoshi will be handed over to the authorities at the Italian Interpol after presenting him before the Public Prosecution in Dubai and taking legal actions to obtain his extradition warrant as per the international laws in this regard.

Dubai Police professionalism praised

Italian authorities praised Dubai Police's professionalism, efficiency and swift response to the red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organisation "Interpol" to arrest the Albanian suspect in Dubai.

They explained that the gang's illegal activities had been investigated since 2015 by the Italian International Police Cooperation Service (SCIP) and the Flying Squad Unit at the Main Police Station in Florence.
 
Big achievement
Lt General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, said the operation is another big achievement that reflects the successful cooperation between the Dubai Police and international law enforcement agencies.
The police chief also praised the tremendous efforts made by the team from the general department of criminal investigations, who located, tracked, and arrested the suspect after receiving the Interpol's Red Notice.
Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief for criminal investigation affairs at Dubai Police, said that the operation was carried out by the Dubai Police SWAT team, in cooperation with several policing agencies across 10 countries.
"A team of elite officers from the Wanted Persons Department at the CID at Dubai Police was immediately assigned the task after exchanging necessary information with the Italian authorities and Interpol. Our officers, aided by the criminal data analysis centre at Dubai Police, nabbed the suspect in Dubai," Maj Gen Al Mansouri added.