Interior Ministry statement on 'Operation Cartel': Cartel leader Dritan Rexhepi captured

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced in a post on his X account that "Dritan Rexhepi," the leader of the drug cartel known as "Kompanio Bello," who was wanted by Italian and Albanian authorities via an Interpol Red Notice, was captured in Istanbul as part of "Operation Cartel."

Yerlikaya's statement is as follows:

"With 'Operation Cartel' carried out in Istanbul, Dritan Rexhepi, the leader of the drug cartel known as 'Kompanio Bello,' who was wanted by Italian and Albanian authorities via a Red Notice and who trafficked drugs from South America to Europe, has been captured.

Dritan REXHEPI, the leader of the international drug cartel known as Kompanio Bello, which trafficked drugs from South America to Europe, was wanted internationally by Italian and Albanian judicial authorities via a Red Notice for the crimes of 'Intentional Homicide, Drug Trafficking, Kidnapping/Deprivation of Liberty, Forgery of Travel Documents, and Weapons and Ammunition.'

Under the coordination of the General Directorate of Security, it was determined by our Istanbul Police Department's Narcotics Crimes Division and Intelligence Division, which had been tracking the drug trafficker internationally, that he had entered our country through Istanbul Airport using a Colombian passport registered under the name Benjamin Omar PEREZ GARCIA. Operation Cartel was immediately launched to capture Dritan REXHEPI.

As a result of joint efforts by our Istanbul Narcotics Crimes Division, Intelligence Division, and the Division for Combating Migrant Smuggling and Border Gates, as well as intelligence sharing with the Italian Police, the cartel leader's location was determined. He was captured in the 'Operation Cartel' conducted in Istanbul's Beylikdüzü district."

News Source: 12punto