Criminal group dismantled in Elbasan/ 30 people in custody, 14 wanted

2025-09-08 19:18:00, Kronika CNA

Five more citizens have been arrested in the mega-operation to crack down on the drug trafficking and distribution network, bringing the total to 30. An investigation has been launched for one person, and 14 have been declared wanted.

During this operation, quantities of cocaine and cannabis, pistol and Kalashnikov firearms, shotguns, a significant amount of combat ammunition, electronic scales, knives, punch amplifiers, suspected smuggled cigarette packs, laptops, tablets, DVRs, vehicle license plates (Albanian and Belgian), amounts of money in euros, pounds, dollars, Swiss francs and 24 mobile phones were seized.

The arrested are charged with "Production and sale of narcotics" and "Unlicensed possession and production of weapons, explosives and ammunition."

Police announcement:

"The mega-operation "First Day" is finalized, the network of distribution and trafficking of narcotics in the Elbasan region is hit.

The operation was pursued with special investigation methods for several months, in cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Elbasan.

25 "Arrest in prison" security measures are executed.

During the operation, 5 other citizens were arrested in flagrante delicto, and 1 other was criminally prosecuted.

Quantities of cocaine and cannabis narcotics, firearms (pistol, Kalashnikov), shotguns, a significant amount of combat ammunition, scales, knives, punch amplifiers, suspected smuggled cigarette packs, laptops, tablets, DVRs, vehicle license plates (Albanian and Belgian), amounts of money in euros, pounds, dollars, Swiss francs, and 24 cell phones were seized.

The Criminal Investigation Structures of the Elbasan Police Department, in close cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office, after an in-depth investigation conducted with special methods for several months, finalized the police mega-operation codenamed "First Day", which focused on striking at persons involved in the sale and distribution of narcotics, spread over different times and places, mainly near school premises, bars and beyond, in Elbasan, Librazhd, Gramsh, Cërrik, Peqin, Belsh and Perrenjas.

Within the framework of this operation, the security measures "Arrest in prison" were executed, for the criminal offense "Production and sale of narcotics", for the citizens: AB, 42 years old, ES, 48 years old, Sh. B., 56 years old, A. (A.) B., 52 years old, F. Th., 34 years old, HG, 64 years old, GT, 37 years old, MB, 45 years old, PQ, 50 years old, SB, 38 years old, DE, 38 years old, MQ, 38 years old, Sh. Sh., 46 years old, BG, 64 years old, IK, 38 years old, ME, 36 years old, IF, 45 years old all residents of Elbasan, KH, 34 years old, AK, 50 years old, resident of Peqin;, IB, 41 years old, K. Ç., 24 years old, FR, 24 years old, KK, 30 years old, MB, 24 years old, resident of Librazhd, PT, 30 years old, resident of Prrenjas.

The investigation documented the criminal activity of these citizens, involved in criminal activities in the field of the sale and distribution of narcotics, who operated in an organized manner in small groups or individually, throughout the Elbasan region.

Also,

- the following citizens were arrested in flagrante delicto: JA, 32 years old, for the criminal offense "Production and sale of narcotics", AT, 31 years old, for the criminal offenses "Production and sale of narcotics", "Illegal possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition", and "Storage and deposit of contraband goods", VD, 36 years old, for the criminal offense "Illegal production and possession of hunting weapons"; ND, 43 years old, for the criminal offense "Production and sale of narcotics" and L. Xh., 50 years old, for the criminal offense "Production and sale of narcotics";

-the materials were referred to the Prosecutor's Office where criminal proceedings were initiated against citizen HD, 57 years old.

During this operation, quantities of cocaine and cannabis, pistol and Kalashnikov firearms, shotguns, a significant amount of combat ammunition, electronic scales, knives, punch amplifiers, suspected smuggled cigarette packs, laptops, tablets, DVRs, vehicle license plates (Albanian and Belgian), amounts of money in euros, pounds, dollars, Swiss francs and 24 mobile phones were seized.

Work continues to capture the 14 wanted citizens.

Investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute any other individuals involved in this criminal activity./ CNA