Dawn N. Ison, U.S. Attorney | Department Of Justice Eastern District Of Michigan
After a twelve-week trial in federal court, an Albanian national, Ylli Didani, 43, was convicted by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Joining Gorgon in the announcement were Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton from the Drug Enforcement Administration's Detroit Division; Marty Raybon, Director of Fields Operation at U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller from Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; and Chief John Piggott of the Farmington Hills Police Department.
Evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that Didani led an international drug trafficking organization with connections across the United States, South America, and Europe. Didani and his unindicted co-conspirators orchestrated and funded cocaine distribution operations from several locations, including Michigan's Eastern District. Large shipments of cocaine were arranged by Didani from South America to Europe where law enforcement seized them. In 2019 and 2020 alone, authorities confiscated over 3,400 kilograms of cocaine loaded onto five freighters destined for international ports. The street value of this seized cocaine exceeds $100 million.
The trial also revealed plans by Didani's organization to design an underwater drone intended for transporting large quantities of cocaine to Europe. This drone was equipped with an underwater modem and GPS antenna for attachment beneath commercial containerships. It would be remotely released near European shores for retrieval by a fishing boat controlled by Didani’s group.
As a result of these convictions, Didani could face life imprisonment.
The investigation involved DEA's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group 6 comprising DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers from various police departments including Farmington Hills PD, Sterling Heights PD, Troy PD, Novi PD, Dearborn Heights PD, Northfield Township PD as well as IRS-CI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
