The Special Appeals Court on Saturday dismissed the appeals of eight members of the "Rraja" criminal group, leaving their prison sentences in effect.

The suspects, Islam Sefa, Rexhep Rraja - son of former socialist MP Rrahman Rraja - Perparim and Gazmir Rraja, Aldo Gjini, Zamir Aliaj, Jani Çavo and Marvin Bushati, will continue their stay in detention cells on charges of drug trafficking and participation in a structured criminal group.

The other two detainees, Sokol Qaja and Agim Nina, also included in the group, did not appeal the decisions given.

This criminal group was targeted a few weeks ago by SPAK, as a result of investigations conducted after the disclosure of the encrypted application Sky ECC. According to the prosecution, the group is suspected of having committed three drug trafficking episodes, two of which involved marijuana and one involving cocaine. Investigations are ongoing to fully document the group's criminal activity.

These citizens, who were discovered after the interceptions in the SKY ECC application were analyzed, are accused of the criminal offenses of drug trafficking committed in collaboration in the special form of collaboration of a structured criminal group provided for by articles 283/a/1 and 28 point 4 of 333/a as well as article 334/1 of the Criminal Code.

According to the journalist, the base of this group was in Nikël.

COMMUNICATION FOR THE MEDIA
The Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, with a monocratic panel composed of Judge Florjan Kalaja, today, on 24.01.2026, announced the decision on criminal case no. 1 act, dated 19.01.2026 registration, on the appeals of the appellants IS, J.Ç, A.Gj., MB, P.Rr., G.Rr., R.Rr., and ZA: “Appeal against decision no. 124, dated 09.12.2025, of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, with the object: Assigning the personal security measure “Arrest in prison”, provided for by article 238, of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Appeal against decision no. 126, dated 11.12.2025, of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, with the object: Questioning and verification of the conditions for the implementation of the personal security measure “Arrest in prison”, provided for by article 238, of the Code of Criminal Procedure Criminal" in matters of personal security measures, and decided:
1. Approval of Decision No. 124, dated 09.12.2025 of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime regarding the dispositions against ZIS, ZJÇ., ZAGj., ZMB, ZPRr., ZGRr., ZRRr., ZZA.
2. Approval of Decision No. 126, dated 11.12.2025 of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime regarding the dispositions against ZIS, ZJÇ., ZAGj., ZMB, ZPRr., ZGRr., ZRRr., ZZA.
3. This decision may be appealed to the Supreme Court within 45 days, starting from the day after the notification of the reasoned decision. It was announced in Tirana, on 24.01.2026.