A 44-year-old Albanian man, sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of two brothers in Shkodër and accused of another double murder in Greece, has been arrested by Greek authorities. He is Zef Preldakaj, alias Fran Preldakaj, who in Greece used the identity Nikolin Pali and had also changed his date of birth. His identification was made thanks to the examination of biometric data by specialists from the Institute of Scientific Police of the State Police, within the framework of the international operation “The Wanted”.
According to the State Police, the arrest is the result of cooperation between the Interpol Tirana Directorate, the Institute of Scientific Police and the Greek Police, through coordination with the counterparts of Interpol Athens. Preldakaj was sentenced in 2008 by the Shkodra Court to 22 years in prison for the criminal offense of "Murder in other qualifying circumstances, against two or more persons", committed in collaboration.
The serious incident occurred in 2002, in the village of Shtoj i Vjetër in Shkodër. According to the investigation, Preldakaj and two other citizens had gone to the premises of two brothers with the intention of robbing them of their daily turnover. During the attempt of one of the brothers to take the weapon from one of the perpetrators, one of Preldakaj's associates shot at them, leaving both dead at the scene. The investigation proved that Preldakaj had stood at the door of the premises to cover and secure the actions of the other two persons. After the crime, he had left with them.
But the 44-year-old is also suspected of another serious crime in Greece. In 2020, Greek authorities accused him of the murder of a Greek citizen and a Ukrainian citizen, whose bodies were found inside a vehicle in Corinth. In addition to these charges, he has criminal records in Greece for armed robbery and violation of weapons legislation in 2014, violation of the gambling law in 2013, and possession of narcotics in 2005. Police say that his identification with accurate generalities was made possible by analyzing biometric data, while Interpol Tirana is cooperating with Greek authorities to fully document his criminal activity and prepare the documentation for extradition to Albania.
