Alleged mercenary arrested in London over Albanian gang boss kidnap plot

An alleged mercenary has been arrested in London over a plot to kidnap the boss of an Albanian crime gang in revenge for a multimillion-pound drug theft. 

Latvian national Ainis Balodis, 45, was one of four men held in an international operation led by German police earlier this month.

The group, some of whom are former French Foreign Legion soldiers, are said by police to be highly trained and were equipped with professional equipment.

They were allegedly hired by an organised crime group to kidnap the leader of a rival drug trafficking gang.

The target, an Albanian crime boss, is suspected of orchestrating the theft of tonnes of cannabis worth millions of euros.

Balodis, who flew into the UK on 31 October, is fighting extradition to Germany where he is wanted on charges of conspiracy to kidnap between August and October last year.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard he was arrested at a six-bedroom gated property in London where he is believed to have been working as a security guard.

Balodis has been remanded in custody ahead of a full extradition hearing next year.

German police said the investigation began in October last year after two Latvian nationals were found with professional surveillance gear and gas-powered weapons during a vehicle stop in the city of Herne, in west Germany.

They have already been convicted and handed prison sentences, according to police.

Investigators also arrested a gang of Albanian suspects after discovering more than 6,000 cannabis plants from three large cannabis plantations.

Four people were arrested in Denmark, France, Latvia and the UK on Wednesday 12 November in the German-led investigation.

‘Violence as a service’ trend

Europol said the operation is linked to the growing “violence as a service” trend, where highly trained specialists – often former special forces members – are hired by organised crime groups.

“A few of the suspects in this case are former French Foreign Legion soldiers,” Europol said.

“This represents an alarming trend emerging from the war in Ukraine. Ukrainians trained by American forces, legionnaires and Russian mercenaries, all former combat-trained soldiers, are returning from the front and making use of their skills for organised crime, posing a potential threat.”

The organisation warned: “Europe may face an increased number of these highly trained individuals engaging in criminal activities” as the war continues and in its aftermath.

“It is crucial to monitor this development and prepare for the potential security challenges it presents,” Europol said.