A major operation against the trafficking of firearms from Kosovo to Albania has been finalized by the Tirana Police.
Through a statement, the Police announced that as part of this operation, 14 firearms (12 pistols, one of them with a silencer, and 2 automatics), 2,077 cannabis seeds, combs and combat ammunition, 3 vehicles and 8 mobile phones were seized.
It is also announced that 10 people have been arrested and two other citizens have been declared wanted, writes A2 CNN.
Arrested are citizens Emirel Tusha, Leandro Haxhiaj, Fabricio Berberi, Rikardo Hajdaraj, Visar Murati, Kevin Farruku, Geraldo Muraj and Adriano Shehu.
According to sources, the individuals brought the weapons mainly from Kosovo, but also from other countries. Initially, they stored them and then sold them to members of criminal groups. In some cases, purchases were also made with undercover police officers.
The payments ranged from 1,000 to 2,500 euros, depending on the firearm. The main base where the weapons were stored was in Burrel. But a good part of them were also in Shkodër, Fushë-Krujë, and Tirana.
Arrested on 1.5.2025. Altin Pajaziti and Kadri Prushi.
Police Announcement:
DVP Tirana/Investigative and operational work to prevent and combat the trafficking of firearms from Kosovo to Albania.
The police operation codenamed "Puzzle" is successfully finalized, after a 5-month investigation using proactive methods.
The operation was carried out by the Illicit Trafficking Investigation Section, in collaboration with the Tirana DVP Operational Force, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office.
14 firearms (12 pistols, one of them with a silencer, and 2 automatics), 2077 cannabis seeds, combs and combat ammunition, 3 vehicles and 8 mobile phones were seized.
During the investigation period, 12 citizens were identified who were trafficking firearms, mainly from Kosovo to Tirana. 10 of them were arrested, while 2 were declared wanted.
Specialists of the Section for the Investigation of Illegal Trafficking, in cooperation with the Operational Force of the Tirana Police Department, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Tirana, in continuation of the investigative and operational work to prevent and combat arms trafficking, after a 5-month investigation using proactive methods, have successfully finalized the police operation codenamed "Puzzle".
As part of the operation, based on information obtained from the investigation into several citizens suspected of trafficking firearms, mainly from Kosovo to Tirana, with the aim of selling them, the following citizens were arrested: ET, 32 years old, LH, 21 years old, FB, 26 years old, RH, 21 years old, VM, 23 years old, KF, 18 years old, GM, 22 years old and A. Sh., 23 years old. Citizens RK, 41 years old and AN, 24 years old, were also declared wanted.
Investigations suspect that these citizens, after obtaining firearms mainly in Kosovo but also in various cities in Albania, brought them to Tirana to sell.
During the investigation period, within the framework of this proceeding, on 01.04.2025, citizens A. P and KP were detained, after they were caught red-handed with 2 firearms, suspected of being trafficked from Kosovo, with the intention of selling them in Tirana.
Following the actions, during the search of the apartment of citizen K. F, the Police services found and seized 2077 cannabis seeds.
Work is underway to capture the wanted citizens and fully document this criminal activity.
The Tirana Local Police Directorate under the direction of the Tirana Prosecutor's Office is cooperating intensively with Kosovo police authorities to identify and apprehend other persons involved in this criminal activity.
The procedural materials were transferred to the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Tirana, for further action. (A2 Televizion)
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