An Albanian police operation initiated thanks to information offered by the French justice authorities led to the arrest of Pëllumb Gjoka, a businessman that was granted the status of a strategic investor by Edi Rama’s government. A prosecutor and two high police officers, in addition to a few others, were arrested suspected for murders, drugs traffic, corruption, and illegal possession of weapons.

Pëllumb Gjoka, 49, was given the status of a strategic investor with a project for the investment of €52 million in a virgin area in the beach of Velipoja, north-western Albania, in exchange of which the Albanian government would guarantee the supply of power, water and canalization done with the taxpayers’ money. An investigative file sent to Albanian justice authorities from France led to Gjoka’s arrest as a key figure of a structured criminal group, responsible for murders, solicitation of murders, and active corruption of public officials.

After more than 36 hours of intensive raids from the State Police and SPAK, the Special Prosecution against Corruption, the authorities made public announcements on what had happened.

Two police officers were arrested: Oltion Bistri, former chief of the Directorate of the Operational Force, and Ardit Ardit Hasanbega, a former police officer. The Prosecutor of Kukës, Xhevahir Lita, was also arrested after the investigation revealed his cooperation with Gjoka.

While the public authorities, including the Council of Ministers, were working feverishly at the service of the strategic investor, Gjoka is suspected of ordering murder. He is currently charged with "Premeditated murder", committed as a special form of cooperation, that of a structured criminal group, "Structured criminal group" and "Commitment of criminal offenses by a structured criminal group and criminal organization". According to the police announcement, this charge is related to the murder on August 9, 2020 of the citizen Gj. N. (B.). He is also accused of two cases of the criminal offense of "Providing conditions and material means to commit murder" as well as active corruption of the prosecutor.

The members of the group are accused of 12 criminal offenses, including murder, illegal deprivation of liberty, drug trafficking, money laundering, committed within the framework of the structured criminal group. While the arrested officials are accused of corruption, abuse of office and fake expertise.