Hamdi Lataj’s past is a world away from the glittering Toronto lifestyle he now embodies. A convicted bank burglar with suspected ties to drug cartels and the Italian mafia, Lataj has quietly inserted himself into the city’s high society, a stark contrast to his earlier life of crime and clandestine dealings.
Today, Lataj frequents courtside seats at Toronto Raptors games and showcases a collection of luxury vehicles online. His most visible appearance came in 2023, featured in Canadian rapper Drake’s music video “Polar Opposites,” seated amongst shadowy figures in a dimly lit gambling den – a scene viewed 9.7 million times on YouTube.
The video’s imagery is striking: Lataj and his companions wear red jackets emblazoned with the Albanian eagle. Whether Drake was aware of Lataj’s history remains unknown, as both men declined repeated requests for comment. Attempts to reach representatives and legal counsel were also unsuccessful.
Lataj’s presence in the video didn’t go unnoticed. Albanian-language media quickly identified him as a “friend” of Drake, noting a shared passion for the Raptors. Images surfaced showing Lataj beaming beside former Raptors star Kyle Lowry during a championship celebration, further cementing his presence within the team’s inner circle.
A Kosovar of Albanian descent, Lataj’s entry into Canada remains a mystery, given his prior convictions in the United States. He currently lists his address as a penthouse in one of Toronto’s most exclusive condo towers, where similar units rent for over $11,000 a month.
Despite the opulent displays of wealth, Lataj also demonstrates generosity towards his homeland. Social media and news reports detail approximately 200,000 euros in donations to community facilities in Kosovo, a surprising juxtaposition to his shadowy past.
Lataj’s journey began decades ago, arriving in the U.S. illegally in 1986. He initially faced deportation but was granted voluntary departure. Despite a failed asylum claim, he remained in the country, accumulating a criminal record that culminated in a 2001 conviction for conspiracy to commit bank burglary in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn heist involved breaching a bank’s roof with cutting tools. Lataj’s Cadillac was central to police surveillance, and he was apprehended attempting to flee the scene. He received a two-year federal prison sentence and was ultimately ordered deported to Kosovo in 2009, after exhausting his appeals.
Before his deportation, a 2013 U.S. indictment linked Lataj to Arif Kurti, an alleged Albanian crime boss suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering. While Lataj’s name was later redacted from the indictment, the connection paints a troubling picture of his past associations.
Upon arriving in Canada, Lataj quickly resurfaced on law enforcement’s radar. A 2016 RCMP document alleged his involvement in drug trafficking, even suggesting a connection to Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s Sinaloa cartel – a claim never proven in court.
Further RCMP investigations in 2019, under Project Hobart, targeted a gambling ring allegedly linked to the Hells Angels. Lataj’s car and cellphone were placed under surveillance, alongside those of Angelo Figliomeni, believed to be the boss of the Toronto ‘Ndrangheta mafia.
While neither Lataj nor Figliomeni faced charges in the case, the surveillance revealed a connection to vehicles Lataj proudly displays on social media, including a Range Rover and a Porsche GT2RS valued at over $400,000. Law enforcement declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation.
The question of whether Drake was aware of Lataj’s background is a compelling one. Some suggest associating with figures like Lataj could be a calculated move to bolster Drake’s street credibility, particularly during a highly publicized feud with Kendrick Lamar.
Lataj’s story is a complex tapestry of crime, wealth, and elusive connections, raising questions about how individuals with troubled pasts can navigate and integrate into mainstream society, and the potential consequences of those associations.
