DOCUMENTS/ Socialist Mayor Tonin Marinaj is accused by the Florence Prosecutor's Office of international drug trafficking

2024-08-15 12:19:00, Aktualitet CNA

DOCUMENTS/ Socialist Mayor Tonin Marinaj is accused by the Florence

Tonin Marinaj, the mayor of Malësi e Madhe

A few weeks ago, the Democratic Party asked the General Prosecutor's Office to verify, according to the decriminalization law, the mayor of Malësë e Madhe, Tonin Marinaj.

According to the DP, the Prosecutor's Office of Florence accuses Marinaj of being the head of a criminal organization of international drug trafficking, and the head of the Municipality of Malësia e Madhe hid these investigations in the self-declaration form.

In relation to this request, there was no lack of reaction from Marinaj himself, who emphasized that everything is a shameful scenario and the accusations are fabricated and political.

He emphasized that he is open to any institution such as the CEC, the prosecutor's office, the HSC and SPAK to start investigations or verifications about his figure. Thus, he denies the DP's accusations.

"I was surprised by the weak script, written or inspired by some scoundrel, a script that also reveals the purpose for which it was created. Next year, there are elections and the Great Highlands and the Highlanders will vote for their government, of course to reconfirm this majority and Prime Minister Edi Rama. I would not have bothered to answer you nongratas who are trying to create a scenario of slander in Malësi Madhe. But I feel an obligation to all the residents of Malësi Madhe not mine, obligation to the Socialist Party, the president and Prime Minister Edi Rama, to my colleagues, to relatives, friends and acquaintances and of course to my family to declare: With the greatest disgust and contempt I reject not only this scenario of shameful, unbelievable and ridiculous, but every attack and accusation made against me, the Municipality of Malësi e Madhe and my citizens. I am open to any institution such as the CEC, the prosecutor's office, the KLSH, SPAK or any other local organization and stranger to review any information at my direction. I offer my maximum cooperation to facilitate his work with a single goal: All the truths will be revealed and the promiscuous mouth of slander will be closed to every person, whether or not a member or leader of one of the DPs" , he emphasized in his reaction.

After the DP's request, the Central Election Commission also started its movements, which on July 11 decided to start the in-depth verification for the socialist mayor.

After the political accusations made by the DP, CNA has secured the investigative file of the Fierence Prosecutor's Office as well as a court decision for Toni Marinaj, even though the latter has publicly denied the investigations by the Italian authorities.

In the voluminous file with dozens of pages, prosecutor Giulio Monferini, during the investigations carried out on March 29, 2016, brought charges against 8 people for a criminal organization with international dimensions for trafficking in narcotics, marijuana.

Among the persons under investigation is Tonin Marinaj, while the others are: Gamuzza Stefania, Rini Marku, Frederik Marku, Ferdinand Paja, Bruno Nika, Saimir Hamazi and Bep Gjoni.

Investigations of the Florence Prosecutor's Office

In 2016, during the investigations carried out 8 years ago, the Prosecutor's Office of Florence sent to court the case of Toni Marinaj, where the socialist mayor is accused of having founded, encouraged and directed an organization of international proportions, based mainly in Tuscany, Venice, Udine and in Albania for marijuana trafficking.

Investigations of the Florence Prosecutor's Office

How did the criminal gang work?

According to the Florence Prosecutor's Office, Tonin Marinaj was the head and founder of the criminal organization, which had subgroups of the organization on the ground led by Bruno Nika, Arenco Pogu, Silvia Piemonte.

The last three people also take care of the family members of the group, in case the latter would be arrested by the police. They also provided the firearms, communications between the group, and the codes they used during conversations.

From the investigations of the prosecution, it was found that Marinaj followed the entire drug route from production to retail sale. The narcotic substance was obtained in Albania, which after arriving in Italy was handed over to the couriers, who started the distribution on the ground.

Rini Marku, together with his brother Frederik Marku and Ferdionand Paja, managed the wholesale and retail distribution of drugs.

Bruno Nika, in the role of courier, transported the narcotics from Florence to Venice.

Stefania Gamuzza together with another person, Danjel Cardaku, had to store the narcotic substance and the task of distributing the narcotic substance to different buyers.

Italian court document

"According to the information, the episodes of marijuana-type narcotic trafficking are described in detail, as well as the collaborators for carrying out this activity, namely: (i) The first episode: The head of the criminal organization Tonin Marinaj organized and directed the importation into Italian territory and the distribution to the members of 50 kilograms of marijuana in Florence, on 29.05.2010; (ii) The second episode: the head of the organization Tonin Marinaj organized and directed the importation to the Italian territory and distribution to the members for sale of no less than 75 kilograms of marijuana, in Florence, on 14.06.2010; (iii) The third episode: the head of the organization, Tonin Marinaj, organized and directed the importation into Italian territory and the distribution to members of 42 kilograms of marijuana, part of a quantity of 388 kilograms of marijuana stored in Florence , in Florence, on 23.07.2010. During the control carried out by the Police, a 9 mm pistol and 100 grams of cocaine were found in this warehouse," the prosecutor's file states.

Investigations of the Florence Prosecutor's Office

Judgment of the Court of Florence

A court session for the 8 defendants was held on May 12, 2016, this judge Angelo Antonio Pezzuti scheduled the next session to take place on October 13, 2016. Tonin Marinaj had not been caught by the Italian authorities and would be tried in absentia.

Judgment of the Court of Florence

Even in the court's decision, it is emphasized that Tonin Marinaj is accused of being the leader, organizer and instigator of the criminal organization engaged in the trafficking of marijuana-type narcotics.

Judgment of the Court of Florence

Until the moment of publication of this article, CNA has tried several times to communicate with the socialist mayor Tonin Marinaj regarding this issue, but he has not answered our calls.

The purpose of the phone calls was to get a statement from Mr. Marinaj about the accusations raised by the Italian authorities and how the case continued after 2016. We have requested communication with him more than 4-5 times, but he does not respond.

The fact is that PD has accused him, the mayor says they are political charges, CNA publishes the documents for the investigations of the Italian prosecutor's office, which also includes the mayor of Malësisa e Madhe, who instead of clarifying his position on this matter, has chosen to politicize that. CNA will continue to publish all documents of the authorities it has in relation to this matter./CNA