Allegations have surfaced against two Albanian siblings for allegedly establishing a drug empire worth £335 million from a car wash business in Bournemouth. Klevis Hoxhosmani, aged 37, and his brother Artur Hoxhosmani, aged 42, were reportedly involved in a major drug-smuggling network in Europe, dealing with cocaine to finance their extravagant lifestyle.
The brothers were apprehended in August following their lavish spending on a yacht, luxury cars, and upscale residences. Approximately 16 individuals were identified as part of their illicit operations. Local residents who knew the siblings described them as troublesome neighbors, with Klevis also said to be romantically involved with the daughter of a former Albanian official.
It is alleged that the criminal organization trafficked cocaine by concealing it within shipments of cocoa beans, bananas, and timber, which were then transported through European ports and overland routes via legitimate trucking companies. The use of the Hawala money transfer system was reported to facilitate their financial transactions discreetly.
The siblings reportedly own multiple high-end properties in Albania’s capital, Tirana, and along the Ionian coastline, in addition to overseeing three businesses in Bournemouth. However, their activities are now under scrutiny by Albania’s Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), which has already seized assets including a yacht, luxury vehicles, and other items belonging to the brothers.
Albanian prosecutors have accused the duo of being connected to a pan-European crime ring responsible for a significant cocaine shipment intercepted in France in 2020. The group allegedly utilized encrypted communication through the ‘Sky ECC’ platform and disguised the narcotics within regular shipments of goods like cocoa beans and bananas.
Both Klevis and Artur have been detained pending a trial after appearing in court in Tirana. The investigation suggests that the siblings settled in Bournemouth in the early 2000s, engaging in various business ventures. Prosecutors suspect the brothers had corrupt connections with port officials to smuggle drugs from South America into the UK through European routes.
Collaboration between Albanian and UK law enforcement agencies is believed to be ongoing to combat the illicit activities of the alleged criminal network. Albanian prosecutors have emphasized the importance of international cooperation in cracking down on such criminal enterprises.