TIRANA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Albanian police finalized the operation for the surrender of Klement Balili, one of the most-wanted persons in the country for drug trafficking, Albanian Interior Minister Sander Lleshaj told a press conference on Tuesday.

According to Lleshaj, the operation was organized in cooperation with Albanian intelligence service and international partners.

"Balili's arrest is a significant result for justice in Albania and further proof that the State Police have come to a new level of alert to fight on behalf of law and ordinary people of this country, ready and capable to move on to a new and decisive stage against organized crime," Lleshaj said.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also hailed the arrest of Balili. "Apprehension of Klement Balili is a major step forward in the fight against organized crime and one of the most sophisticated police operations that had taken months," said the prime minister.

Albanian president Ilir Meta also congratulated the Albanian State Police on Balili's arrest and added that this could not happen without the support of the international partners.

Balili is a former senior official at the local administration in Saranda, South Albania and has been in hiding following an international arrest warrant for drug trafficking issued against him.