The Berat Prosecutor's Office has requested security measures for 11 people suspected of illegally engaging in financial activity, specifically for conducting foreign exchange without a license from the competent authorities. According to investigations conducted during a criminal proceeding, administrators and employees of six commercial entities are suspected of having engaged in foreign exchange activities without the authorization of the Bank of Albania.

The six-month proactive investigation extended to five municipalities in the Berat district and led to the documentation of suspected illegal activity by citizens with the initials ST, HS, MM, SH, SC, AH, AS, OV, ZM, ET and KP.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, these individuals had registered entities with the object of activity as money transfer agents on behalf of and for the account of non-bank financial institutions. However, verifications revealed that these points were not registered on the list of foreign exchange offices licensed by the Bank of Albania.

During the investigation, with the authorization of the prosecution, simulated actions and secret photographic and film recordings were carried out. In total, 28 foreign exchange transactions were carried out at the suspected entities, documenting the activity without a license.

NOTIFICATION OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
The Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, Berat requested the security measures 'House arrest' and 'Obligation to report to the judicial police', for 11 persons, under investigation for the criminal offense 'Practice of financial activities without a license'. From the investigations conducted within the framework of criminal proceedings no. 47, it resulted that in the six commercial entities investigated, their administrators and employees exercised foreign exchange activity without the permission of the competent authorities.

The six-month proactive investigations of the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Berat extended to five municipalities throughout the region and managed to prove the illegal activity of citizens ST, HS, MM, SH, SC, AH, AS, OVZM, ET and KP.

These citizens had registered businesses with the scope of activity "Agent for carrying out financial activities for money transfers in the name and on behalf of a financial entity, not a bank, located in Berat and Kuçovë, and were found not to be on the list of licensed foreign exchange offices, operating without a license issued by the Bank of Albania.

Based on the authorization granted by the prosecution authority to allow the performance of stimulating actions and the performance of secret photographic, film or video recording, 28 exchange transactions of monetary values ​​were carried out at the suspected subjects, proving that they exercise this activity without a license.

Regarding the above, the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, Berat requested the security measures "Obligation to report to the judicial police" and "House arrest", provided for by articles 233, 234 and 237 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

From the controls carried out in the context of this proceeding, the following were found and seized:

88 million lekë; 118 thousand euros; 7390 dollars; and 665 pounds.