TIRANA, May 19 – The head of the Special Prosecution, SPAK, Arben Kraja and the director of the State Police Gledis Nano have issued official statements regarding the mega operation codenamed “Golden bullet” launched on Thursday morning which led to the detention of 18 underworld criminals after prosecution issued 32 arrest warrants. Their names have been discovered after the testimony given by the repentant, Nuredin Dumani, according to revelations of Kraja and Nano.
“We have identified the existence of eight structured criminal groups with their main activity in Tirana, Durres and Elbasan,” SPAK head Kraja told a press conference. He described the groups as “very violent” and “highly organised”.
“The investigation found out that these criminal groups were able to pay large sums for executing their adversaries,” Kraja said.
Some 18 criminal episodes that had been under investigation separately were joined in a single file.
Police raided some 28 homes and offices using specialized forces while 18 people were arrested. About half of them were arrested while already in prison for other reasons, however, and some notorious underworld figures weren’t found. One police officer has been arrested for abuse of power in relation to the investigation.
Kraja said the criminal offenses of the detainees indicate a very high degree of organization and thus added that these criminal groups have been identified in criminal offenses to the detriment of life, health and property.
Asked about the missing suspects, Kraja said they have no reason to worry about leaks while declining to provide more information due to the “secrecy of the operation”.
For his part, the General Director of the State Police Gledis Nano stressed that the operation codenamed “Golden bullet”, which is ongoing, started immediately after the arrest of the highly wanted, Nuredin Dumani, who was detained during the coded police operation “Escape”, which was conducted by the structures of the State Police, in cooperation with the Prosecution at the Elbasan Judicial District Court.
Nano said that the operation was extended to several regions like in Tirana, Durres, Elbasan and Lezha. The operation involved the special forces RENEA, FNSH, the Directorate of Special Operational Force, the Directorate Against Crime against Person and Property, the Investigation Directorate, as well as the Local Directorates of the counties I mentioned.
“The operation is ongoing and I want to guarantee the citizens that the structures of the State Police will not stop the operations at any moment, until the arrest of all wanted persons who are involved in criminal activities,” he said.
The operation was welcomed by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
“Today’s SPAK and State Police operation is the most comprehensive example of strengthening law enforcement agencies and of a strong determination to hit organised crime by the force of the law,” Rama said on Twitter on Thursday. /Argumentum.al
