Federal Drug Bust Linked to 3 Albany Residents

Federal agents raided multiple addresses in Brooklyn as well as a home in Clifton Park and one in Columbia County yesterday. The homes belong to associates of an Albanian drug mob.  Authorties say they have been operating a drug ring where they've been dealing marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and painkillers.

28-year old Valter Memia, also known as Pablo Codenotti, and his wife Loretta Lokaj, 40, of 152 Woodin Road in Clifton Park were arrested as well as 45-year old David McLean of 282 Snyder Road in Ghent, according to the Times Union.  Memia is supposedly a wholesale distributor within the organization.  His wife and another co-defendant were the ones who laundered any proceeds from drug sales, all according to federal documents.  Lokaj also distributed oxycodone.  McLean and ...................................................................................... another co-defendant ran the marijuana stash ...................................................................................... houses in Brooklyn.

The drug organization, known as the "Thaqi Organization" is run by 40-year old Gjavit Thaqi, also known as "The Doc."  He is the organization's primary representative and said to control all the drug outlets throughout all five boroughs of New York City and Albany.

Authorities found 18 guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, 943 pounds of marijuana from Mexico, 70 pounds of marijuana in a tractor-trailer driven from Toronto, and 20 pounds found in a traffic stop in Dutchess County.