"Në Shënjestër" has obtained details from the investigative file, which sheds light on cocaine trafficking and the way in which the Albanian group recently hit by SPAK laundered this money in Albania.

But what was the form in which these characters and this structured criminal group operated in Albania and who was the person who was designated as the eminence of the criminal group, who had the authorization to operate in Albania and carry out all the dirty transactions related to this group?

According to the investigative file provided by the show 'Në Shënjestër', this person was Salvatore Aliu, who was identified by the State Police as one of the leaders and key figures of this criminal group, who, through the establishment of businesses with the income coming from this criminal activity, made it possible to launder money earned from international drug trafficking. As was the 'Road House' supermarket chain in Elbasan.
Conversations that he and other people have also developed on the encrypted platform 'Sky Ecc'.

Salvatore Aliu, who was involved in this complicated money laundering process by his brother, Isa Aliu, who was the main man behind these activities in Albania.

"This criminal proceeding was initiated based on a referral made by the General Directorate of Police in 2020, according to which it is learned that several persons led by citizen Salvatore Aliu, where this group included his family members but also foreign citizens, were involved in international drug trafficking on the Ecuador-EU countries, United Kingdom, Albania, etc. line. Where this citizen was identified by the State Police as the leader and key person in this criminal group, in the role of supplier and provider of narcotics, organizer and financier of cocaine shipments, from Ecuador to EU countries, but also to Albania.
According to the referral made by the State Police, Salvatore Aliu's brother, Albanian citizen Isa Aliu, was considered the key person who made money laundering possible, through the establishment of businesses, including the 'Road House' supermarket chain in the city of Elbasan," SPAK reports.

Precisely by following these individuals and their criminal activity, SPAK requested from their French partners the communications on Sky Ecc that these individuals had developed during the time they were trafficking tons of drugs from South America to Europe.
Communications where some of these episodes of international drug trafficking were confirmed. Respectively 5 such episodes.

"A significant amount of cocaine of 700 kg was transported, seized in the port of Waasland Antwerp, the drug was found in a container with car spare parts, which had been unloaded from a ship coming from China.
June 6, 2020
A quantity of 2010 kg of cocaine was trafficked, seized in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which had the Netherlands as its final destination.
August 16, 2020
A quantity of 1100 kg of cocaine was trafficked, seized in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
December 6, 2020
A quantity of 4.1 tons was trafficked in the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands
3 February 2021
"A quantity of 1 ton and 50 kg was trafficked, seized in Colombia, with the Netherlands as its final destination," the Special Prosecution Office announced.

It would be these episodes of cocaine trafficking, but also the communications on Sky Ecc, which would not only reveal the cocaine activity, but also the characters themselves and the pseudonyms they used in their conversations.

Where Salvatore Aliu, also known as General Shpëtim Aliu, was known as Daja, Qero, Qerosi, Viktor, Albo Pelon. As were the other members of the criminal group. Who also had pseudonyms.

|From the communications in Sky Ecc, data has emerged on this criminal group, which operated in the trafficking of narcotics. From which Salvatore Aliu alias Shpëtim Aliu, also known as 'Daja', 'Qero', 'Qerosi', 'Viktor', 'Albo Pelon' were identified. But also Oklid Oulejdi, Sokol Bibaj, Denis Matoshi alias Eldi Dizdari, Armando Pacani, Dritan Gjika, Florian Musaj alias Naum Filo, Aleks (Shklqim) Pepaj, Jetmir Pepaj, Naldi Yzeiraj and other unidentified persons. Citizens Isa Aliu and Nikollë Bibaj, involved in money laundering activity in Albania, have also been identified.

"In the communications between Isa Aliu and his brother Salvatore Aliu, it is clear that 30 million euros were received. Money that Isa Aliu then invested in the construction field and other businesses," SPAK reports.

Isa Aliu, who maintains constant contact with his brother Salvatore. He constantly informs him about the criminal group's safe and the state of the coffers. Serving as a treasury minister for the criminal group.

"On August 30, 2020, Isa Aliu informs his brother Salvatore Aliu that he has a balance of 6 million euros. On September 15, 2020, he writes to his brother that he has a balance of 9 million and 800 thousand euros.
On September 13, 2020, Salvatore Aliu tells his brother Isa Aliu that he will receive another 20 million euros.

Where on September 16, 2020, Isa Aliu sends his brother Salvatore all his services for the delivery of lek from Salvatore Aliu's connections. Conversations during which they also discuss facilitating the disposal of cash.
"Next, Salvatore Aliu teaches Isa Aliu how to hide money in a 50-liter barrel, or how to buy apartments," the announcement says.

But the purpose of buying the apartments was not only to launder money, but also to hide the money there, through separate compartments. This is a method previously unheard of among criminal groups, who take care to keep their money as safe as possible.

"Salvatore Aliu is concerned about hiding the 'cash' as ​​best as possible, telling his brother that they should be careful as they could get a surprise from the state authorities, given that they are now at 'big levels'."
"So he suggests that he buy apartments and hide the money there in separate compartments," the announcement says.

According to SPAK, the key point in the complicated money laundering process is the company 'Aliu Road House' shpk, founded in 2008.

Where until 2021 the main activity of this company was the trade of food products and alcoholic beverages. Years during which this company had declared a loss of 17 million lek. Meanwhile, in 2021, this company expanded its activity into the field of construction where it declared a profit of 109 million lek. Isa Aliu who initially suggested that the company appear as a subcontractor for housing construction. This was with the aim that the company would thus justify the 'cash' money as well as the flow of income that would come from the expansion in the field of construction.

A company which, precisely after increasing its capital as a result of construction, in the years 2021-2023, entered into an agreement with the company 'Svilupo Mare1' for the purpose of building the 'Lalzi Marina Seaside' and 'Porto Lalzi Villas' complexes, located in the exclusive area of ​​Hamallaj in Durrës.
Where in 'Lalzi Marina Seaside', Isa Ali's company built in 90 thousand 2 with a total value of 30 million euros.

Meanwhile, in the 'Porto Lalzi Villas' complex, the company 'Aliu Road' shpk, in 2023, already in the role of investor, signed two construction enterprise contracts with the company 'Svilupo Mare1', worth 12 million euros.

During the investigation conducted by SPAK, dozens of assets hidden in the names of other people were discovered, related to large areas of land, machinery, apartments, plants, etc., totaling tens of millions of euros.

A company run by Isa Aliu, which extends its activity in hospitality and tourism to almost all of Albania, also becoming a shareholder in many of the hotels that would be built.

Something that was also seen in the numerous bank accounts that this company had, which have now been blocked by decision of the GKKO. Another character in the voluminous SPAK file is Sokol Bibaj, who from the investigations has resulted in being involved in the trafficking of a quantity of 4.1 tons of cocaine, a drug which on December 16, 2020, was seized in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The cargo, which according to SPAK, was sent by Salvatore Aliu, Isa Aliu's brother, and was to be received at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, by Sokol Bibaj.
Bibaj, who appears to be involved in the trafficking of a quantity of 1 ton and 50 kg, seized in Colombia on February 3, 2021.

This shipment was also sent by Salvatore Aliu, but ordered by Sokol Bibaj.