The Special Prosecution Office, SPAK, officially shared details on the investigation that led to the arrest of 3 police chiefs and declared a former operative of the Operation wanted, accused of being involved in criminal groups involved in the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis.
SPAK "dismantled" two criminal groups, active in the 2019-2021 timeframe, one of which was allegedly led by Kristo Qirici, the brother of Edmond Papa, the businessman executed in December 2022 in Tirana. Although SPAK received the green light for 10 arrests from the Court, the State Police found and handcuffed only three of them, the head of crimes at the Himara Police Station, Shkelzen Ruska, the head of crimes at the Lushnja Police Station, Ervis Alisinanaj, and the former operative of the Operational Forces, Erdit Hazizaj, writes A2.
Meanwhile, Ervis Dervishi, acting chief of the Saranda Border Police, and six other suspects have been declared wanted, following suspicions that they are abroad. The State Police announced on Sunday the suspension of Ruska, Alisinanaj and Dervishi from duty. According to SPAK, the police officers, put in handcuffs, taking advantage of the then position of the State Police, have helped the leaders of the criminal group with advice and continuous information for the proper functioning of criminal activity, as well as by creating security for the members of the criminal group.
SPAK has documented two episodes of trafficking, which is suspected of being cultivated in the Saranda area, in a closed environment and in the Gjirokastër-Tepelena area, with the aim of trafficking to Greece. On March 7, 2020, the group led by Qirici passed through “Qafë Botës” a quantity of 1.1 tons of cannabis, as well as small quantities of cannabis chocolate and oil, with a value of almost 1.7 million euros. The quantity in question was seized from two Italians convicted in Greece. While the other group, led by a person with the initials LB, on October 1, 2020, a quantity of 1,300 wet cannabis plants, with stems, branches, leaves and buds, weighing a total of 1.2 tons, which were inside a van, was blocked near the village of Salari in Tepelena.
In another episode in 2020, Ervis Alisinanaj, then the head of crime in Saranda, ordered that a minor take possession of a weapon found in the vehicle of one of the members of the criminal group. According to SPAK, the accused police officers, by committing or not committing actions, “have caused considerable damage to the legitimate interests of the state, undermining the regular legal activity of State Police employees, as well as undermining the credibility of the State Police before the public in relation to its mission to maintain public order and security, guaranteeing the implementation of the law.” (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
