Dismantled - leader extradited 2025

Kompania Bello

The Albanian cocaine federation run from behind prison bars in Ecuador

5 suspects11 events10 locations2014 - present

// intel brief

Kompania Bello is a federation of 14 Albanian criminal organizations that controlled one of Europe's most prolific cocaine pipelines. Its leader, Dritan Rexhepi, orchestrated the entire operation from an Ecuadorian prison cell, negotiating directly with South American suppliers while arranging shipments to Antwerp and Rotterdam. Rexhepi is a master of prison escapes - walking out of custody in Albania, sawing through bars in Milan, escaping in Antwerp, and eventually absconding from semi-open detention in Ecuador after cutting his ankle monitor. Operation Los Blancos dismantled the network in September 2020 with 84 arrests across 10 countries and nearly 4 tonnes of cocaine seized. Rexhepi was finally recaptured in Istanbul in November 2023 carrying a forged Colombian passport, and extradited to Albania in January 2025. The network used the Chinese "fei ch'ien" underground banking system to move profits internationally.

// timeline

1998Rexhepi commits murder in Fushe-Kruje, Albania, at age 19

2006Rexhepi walks out of police custody in Durres - tells guard "They're finished with me"

2011Escapes Milan prison using a saw and bedsheet ropes. Later escapes from Antwerp prison

Jun 2014Arrested in Quito, Ecuador with 278 kg of cocaine. Sentenced to 13 years

2014-2021Rexhepi builds and runs Kompania Bello from Ecuadorian prison cell - negotiates directly with South American cartels

Sep 2020Operation Los Blancos: 84 arrests across 10 countries, nearly 4 tonnes cocaine and EUR 5.5 million seized

Nov 2021Rexhepi released to semi-open regime with ankle monitor despite international warrants

Jan 2022Rexhepi disappears after last check-in. Later cuts ankle monitor and vanishes

Nov 2023Recaptured in Istanbul with forged Colombian passport under alias "Benjamin Omar Perez Garcia"

Dec 2023Right-hand man Remzi Ademi arrested in North Macedonia

Jan 2025Rexhepi extradited from Turkey to Albania under heavy security. Albania wins over competing requests from Italy, England, and Belgium

// key locations

Fushe-Kruje, Albania

Rexhepi's hometown - scene of 1998 murder

Quito, Ecuador

Arrested here in 2014 with 278 kg cocaine

Guayaquil, Ecuador

Litoral prison - ran Kompania Bello from cell here

Port of Rotterdam

Primary European entry point for cocaine shipments

Port of Antwerp

Secondary entry point - managed by Matoshi and Dizdari

Istanbul, Turkey

Rexhepi recaptured in Beylikduzu district, November 2023

Milan, Italy

Prison escape 2011 - sawed through bars

Dubai, UAE

Matoshi and Dizdari arrested here during Operation Los Blancos

Florence, Italy

Prosecutor's office that led the investigation

Tirana, Albania

Rexhepi extradited here January 2025 - faces trial

// operation map

// key figures

Dritan RexhepiDetained

Founder and leader of Kompania Bello - ran cocaine empire from Ecuadorian prison | Albanian

Albanian national born around 1979. Convicted of murder at age 19 in Fushe-Kruje (1998). Escaped custody in Albania (2006), Italy (2011), Belgium (2011), and absconded from semi-open detention in Ecuador (2022). Arrested in Quito in 2014 with 278 kg of cocaine. Sentenced to 13 years but ran Kompania Bello from behind bars. Released to semi-open regime November 2021, disappeared January 2022. Recaptured in Istanbul November 2023 with forged Colombian passport under alias "Benjamin Omar Perez Garcia." Extradited to Albania January 8, 2025. Also wanted for kidnapping and murder of Jan Prenga, allegedly ordered from prison.

Denis MatoshiDetained

Head of Rotterdam/Antwerp operations and key 'Ndrangheta contact | Albanian

Managed Kompania Bello's European port operations from the Netherlands, overseeing cocaine imports through Rotterdam and Antwerp. Served as the primary liaison with the Italian 'Ndrangheta for distribution and money laundering. Arrested in Dubai during Operation Los Blancos in September 2020.

Eldi DizdariDetained

Large-scale cocaine logistics coordinator - Dutch port operations | Albanian

Coordinated large-scale cocaine movements through Dutch ports for Kompania Bello. Arrested in Dubai during Operation Los Blancos in September 2020, alongside Denis Matoshi. Responsible for coordinating container shipments and managing uithaler teams at Antwerp and Rotterdam.

Cesar Emilio Montenegro Castillostatus_unknown

Ecuadorian cocaine supplier - linked to Norte del Valle and Sinaloa cartels | Ecuadorian

Key South American supplier for Kompania Bello. Identified as the primary cocaine source connecting Ecuadorian production to Albanian distribution networks. Linked to Colombia's Norte del Valle cartel and Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Provided the multi-tonne shipments that Rexhepi arranged from his prison cell.

Remzi AdemiDetained

Suspected right-hand man - coordinated shipments after Rexhepi's disappearance | Albanian

Suspected right-hand man to Dritan Rexhepi. Took over coordination of cocaine shipments after Rexhepi absconded from Ecuador in 2022. Arrested in North Macedonia in December 2023, shortly after Rexhepi's capture in Istanbul.

// other files

Marengo

The trial that exposed the heart of Dutch organized crime

The Cocaine Route

How billions in cocaine flows from South America to European streets

EncroChat

How police cracked the criminal underworld's secret phone network

Mocro Maffia

The rise of Dutch-Moroccan organized crime networks in Europe

Port Wars

The battle for Europe's cocaine gateways - Rotterdam vs Antwerp

Rif Connection