Allegations have surfaced against two Albanian siblings, accusing them of orchestrating a drug empire worth £335 million from a car wash establishment in Bournemouth. Klevis Hoxhosmani, aged 37, and his brother Artur Hoxhosmani, aged 42, were reportedly involved in a major drug-smuggling network in Europe, where they trafficked cocaine to sustain a lavish lifestyle, as per prosecutors.
The brothers were apprehended in August after splurging on extravagant assets such as a yacht, luxury cars, and high-end residences. Approximately 16 individuals are said to have been linked to their illicit operation. Former neighbors in Dorset have labeled them as disruptive individuals. Klevis, the younger sibling, is romantically involved with the daughter of a former Albanian official, frequently showcasing their opulence on social media platforms with posts from luxurious destinations like Dubai, Monaco, and London.
The alleged criminal organization allegedly concealed cocaine within shipments of cocoa beans, bananas, and timber, moving them through European ports and overland routes via legitimate transportation companies. They utilized the Hawala money transfer system to evade detection, a method known for moving currency off the traditional banking grid. However, this system was compromised by Albanian authorities in 2022.
The brothers own several upscale properties in Albania’s capital, Tirana, and along the thriving Ionian coast. Additionally, they operate three businesses registered under Klevis Hoxhosmani with Companies House in Bournemouth. Nevertheless, their criminal enterprise is under scrutiny by Albania’s Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), which is investigating the legitimacy of their wealth, resulting in the seizure of valuable assets like a yacht and a fleet of luxury cars, including a high-end Mercedes-Benz.
SPAK also claims to have confiscated three firearms, two luxury watches, 16 mobile phones, and 19 bank cards from the siblings’ group. Prosecutors in Albania have implicated the transcontinental crime ring in a significant cocaine seizure in France in April 2020, suspected to be en route to the UK.
The accused reportedly communicated through encrypted messages on ‘Sky ECC’, expressing disbelief when their drug shipment was intercepted. Prosecutors assert that everyday goods like cocoa beans and bananas were used to conceal the illicit drug within various shipments, including timber deliveries.
Albanian police allege that tons of narcotics were transported to ports in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and the UK by unsuspecting truck drivers employed by legitimate companies. Klevis and Artur recently appeared in court in Tirana and are currently in custody awaiting trial.
Artur arrived in the UK in 1999, with Klevis following later. By 2013, they had settled in Bournemouth, where Klevis managed the Crystal Hand Carwash. In 2014, Klevis admitted to assaulting a woman, leading to a community order and compensation payment.
Authorities investigating the case believe the brothers exploited corrupt port officials to traffic cocaine from Ecuador and Colombia through European routes to the UK. The UK’s National Crime Agency is believed to be collaborating with Albanian authorities as part of a broader crackdown across Europe.
Albanian prosecutors hailed the successful investigation led by SPAK as a product of close interagency and international collaboration.