Brazil Supreme Court Upholds Arrest of Albanian Suspect Ervin Mata

Brazil's Supreme Court rejected a defense request to lift the preventive detention of Albanian citizen Ervin Mata, keeping the arrest in force as the extradition process to Albania proceeds. The court, reporting a decision dated 21 July 2026 and issued by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, affirmed the earlier request by the Albanian government for Mata’s extradition on charges of drug trafficking and involvement in organized crime under Albania’s penal code.

Mata was initially placed under preventive arrest on 11 March 2025, and the Federal Police of Brazil executed his detention on 25 April 2026. The court noted that the formal extradition request had been presented to Brazilian authorities on 7 March 2025 and reaffirmed on 2 July 2026 through a verbal note from the Albanian embassy. Brazil’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office supported the extradition request, and the ruling emphasized that the preventive measure is essential to ensure Mata remains available to authorities for the pending extradition proceedings.