An Albanian crime gang in Dublin is being investigated for alleged drug trafficking and using legitimate businesses as fronts. Three firearms seizures have been made in northwest Dublin within a week.

Police in Dublin have discovered a significant sum of cash in an office within an industrial estate, believed to be used as a front for drug trafficking run by Albanian gangs. The Irish authorities say members of the organised crime outfit are originally from Albania and Kosovo and have a growing influence on crime in Ireland. A senior member of an Albanian crime mob suspected of being heavily involved in people and drugs trafficking was targeted by Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in December 2019, where they seized two high-end cars, €22,000 in cash and a Swiss watch. In May 2017, specialist Gardaí conducted several top-secret operations against the Albanian mafia in the capital, leading to almost €1m worth of cannabis herb being seized in two weeks.