SPAK sends 27 defendants, members of two criminal groups, for trial

2025-04-11 16:04:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, at the conclusion of the investigations for criminal proceedings no. 188, year 2023, submitted to the Special Court the request for the trial of 27 defendants, members of two structured criminal groups.

The defendants are:

Endri Seiti, Luan Tafalla, Km Shaqiful Islam, Endrit Ismailaj, Alok Mittra, Arnol Shpata, Xhuljeta Çopa, Artur Mata, Antonio Specchio, Altin Hasani, Edmond Braha, Emmanuel Delphin Assako Ella, Arjel Hoxha, Orkid Pijaneci, Arba Hysenllari, Ermal Hoxha, Artan Sulaj, Luan Sulaj, Shkelzen Matmuja (Bokciu), Faik Matmuja, Bukurosh Muja, Lulzim Lami, Tome Preka, Xhuljo Krasniqi, Edmond Baklli, Iglan Alliçi, Arben Domi,

The acts they are accused of:

“Assistance in illegal border crossing”, committed in the form of special cooperation for the purpose of profit, “Forgery of documents”, committed in the form of special cooperation of a criminal group, “Structured criminal group”, committed in the form of creation, direction, organization or participation, “Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization or criminal group”, “Active corruption of persons exercising public functions”, committed in cooperation, provided for by articles; 298/2 and 28/4; 186/1 and 28/4; 333/a/1, 334/1 and 244/2 and 25 of the Criminal Code, provided for by articles; 298/2 and 28/4; 186/1 and 28/4; 333/a/2 and 334/1 of the Criminal Code.

The investigation proves the existence of two criminal groups, composed of Albanian and foreign citizens, who organized the illegal crossing of the Albanian border of over 650 foreign citizens, mainly from South Asian countries (Bangladesh) and Central African countries (Cameroon), during 2023 to April 2024, in exchange for material gain.

These criminal groups are believed to have carried out the same activity in 2022 with foreign citizens from other countries.

Albania is proven to have been used as a transit country, a territory through which the legal entry of foreign citizens from the continents of Asia and Africa to the continent of Europe was facilitated through air transport and continued illegally through land transport, towards the Balkan route. This activity was carried out by exploiting the legal and sub-legal acts that regulate the employment of foreign citizens.

Organized criminal activity at a transnational level and consists of:

a) Recruitment of foreign nationals in their countries of origin, mainly from South Asian and Central African countries, through agencies operating in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai or even Cameroon. The persons recruited are males with an average age of 24 to 35 years.

b) Mediation of their employment by the leaders of criminal groups operating in Albania, which included applying for their employment in various commercial companies registered in Albania (mainly in Tirana, Vlora and Durrës). In some cases, the partners or administrators of these companies were aware of the fictitious employment and are also considered participants in the criminal group;

c) Falsification of rental contracts, employment contracts, employment invitations, professional certificates or foreign language proficiency certificates, necessary for the procedures to obtain a category "D" visa, according to Law No. 108/2023 "On Foreigners" and Council of Ministers No. 858, dated 29.12.2021 "On the determination of criteria, procedures and documentation for the entry, stay and treatment of foreigners in the Republic of Albania".

d) Facilitation of this criminal activity by specialists from the General and Local Directorates of the Border Police, involved in the procedures for issuing visas to these citizens, aware of and part of this criminal group, through counseling.

d) Planning the travel of these citizens and providing them with travel tickets from 'Vacation Planner Travel & Tourism', located in the United Arab Emirates, with the defendant's partner, Km Shaqiful Islam, their travel from Dubai and Cameroon airports, towards Rinas and their reception by the leaders and members of the criminal groups.

e) Their accommodation for several hours or several days in various places such as; restaurants, hotels or other places, not showing up or showing up for work only for a few days at the commercial companies that have requested their employment, while awaiting their transportation;

f) Illegal transportation by criminal groups across Albanian borders on the Balkan route, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and further with final destination in European Union countries.

Regarding the payments made, it is proven that each of the foreign citizens from Bangladesh paid amounts of money, which range from six thousand to eight thousand euros. These amounts of money were paid by them mainly in Dubai and then transferred to Albania to the leaders of the group through the "Hawala" system.

From the searches carried out in the defendants' homes, 700,000 (seven hundred thousand) American Dollars, 400,000 (four hundred thousand) Euros, 4,000 (four thousand) Pounds, and 520,000 Lekë were seized. /CNA