Suspected drug smuggler arrested after heroin found in soap, Europol says

The suspected kingpin of a drugs-smuggling ring has been arrested in Albania after authorities in Germany uncovered heroin hidden in a shipment of soap originating from Iran, Europol said on Thursday.

The suspect was a 57-year old Turkish man who was arrested in Albania this month after an investigation led by Germany along with the Netherlands and Europol, the pan-European police agency said.

"The suspect, one of Europol's high-value targets, is suspected of heading a criminal network responsible for the large-scale import of heroin into western Europe," Europol said.

The investigation linked the suspect to the seizure of 703 kg of heroin in the port of Hamburg in Germany in August 2022.

"The heroin was hidden in a container shipment of soap originating from Iran," it said.

Europol did not name the man who had been arrested.