SPAK struck this Friday one of the largest criminal organizations and signed arrest warrants for some of the most well-known drug traffickers in the country and also businessmen who have won tenders worth millions of euros, while they have built luxury towers and resorts in the south of the country. With the signature of Altin Dumani and Elida Kackini, a total of 15 arrest warrants were signed with prison, while 5 others were under house arrest, for the criminal offenses of cocaine trafficking, money laundering worth millions of euros, as well as criminal organization.
Among the suspects is Artur Shehu, the controversial figure who is also being investigated for the scheme of alienation of properties in Zvërnec, where Jaresh Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, would invest for the construction of a luxury resort. Shehu has not been arrested, as he has been living in the US for nearly 3 decades. Artur alias Luciano Koçeku, who leads an international drug trafficking group with his brothers, has been declared wanted. Koçeku has been based in Dubai for years. The group trafficked cocaine from Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Surinam, Paraguay, Uruguay, Puerto Rico and Brazil to Europe. The money earned from the sale of cocaine in various European countries was laundered in Albania. An arrest warrant has been issued for Ilir Shtufi, who was the Koçeku's man and invested in construction, on suspicion of money laundering, while businessman Orest Sota was arrested.
Another group was led by Renato Hamzai, a connection of Artur Shehu, present at the much-discussed Aruba meeting, where crime bosses got together and discussed criminal matters. Shehu laundered money through the brothers Erion and Adrian Rama, nephews of Fatmir Rama known as Miri i Xhikes, executed on March 9, 2003 in the luxurious Kartodromi complex, as well as Leonard Bishajtr known as Coco. Orgest Bircaj, the owner of the Top Seven company, ended up in handcuffs. He used the company for drug trafficking. Edmond Jaupi was sent to house arrest as part of the same operation. SPAK seized millions of euros of assets belonging to the Koceks, the Rama brothers, as well as Ilir Shtufi or persons associated with him. Members of the criminal organization had invested in the construction of luxury resorts in the south of the country. While they had obtained building permits for new resorts.
NAMES OF THE 20 ACCUSED:
Artur Shehu
Ilir Shtufi
Ardian Zykaj
Alfredo Hamzai
Luciano Koceku alias Artur Koceku
Dino alias Abedin Koceku
Ervin Koceku
Adrian Rama
Erjon Rama
Orgest Bircaj
Elton Memeti
Leonard Bishaj
Arben Ismaili
Edmond Jaupi
Orest Sota
Faithful Myftari
Dritan Aga
Astrit Vladi
Vladi Kastriot
Gezim Islami
