Albania, operation on cigarette smugglers group, SPAK was supported by Kosovo authorities

The Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Task Force (SPAK), during today's 28.05.2025 day, has conducted an operation concerning a sophisticated cigarette smuggling scheme in which Albanian and foreign citizens, as well as customs officials, are involved.

According to the SPAK, on more than 30 occasions the destination of goods has been changed, and then the shipment destined for the errand firm has been fired on Albanian territory with the intention of smuggling to neighbouring countries without paying customs duties.

Alleged <x1 characters have acted within the framework of a structured criminal group aimed at smuggling cigarettes produced within Albania's territory to neighbouring and later EU countries. Concretically, the trade subject (Cygars Fabric “A. The included T” has applied and is equipped with authorization “Implementation Active” (RPA), from customs authority, with the aim of tax and customs duties, both in import of raw materials and in export” SPAK Notification.

The damage this smuggling group has caused to Albania and EU countries is huge, and according to SPAK, if four other cases planned by this group were not prevented, it would achieve the goal of losing the EU's tax value at approximately 10m euros.

The fact that this structured criminal group with a long-term activity, for the purpose of economic gain, has brought a significant damage to the state's budget to the value of 366.034.451,000 and EU countries in a case at the value of 2,802,159,90 euros if smuggling was successful, and in four other cases, they have achieved the goal of losing the EU's tax value at approximately 10,000,000HOCHOCH.

In this case, personal security measures have been imposed in prison.

“setting personal security measure “arrest to prison”, predicted by Article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code, against persons under investigation; I. J, (owner of the factory), D.J. (the factory administrator), S.D. (North Macedonian State), L.Q. (Kosovo states as well as United Kingdom citizenship), Mr.S (Serbian states) and M.B. (Serbian states) suspected of committing criminal acts “Kontrabands with goods for which the excise is paid or with full or partial suspension from customs or excise duties” reported in the SPAK report.

While against suspects with N.G. initials. For committing criminal acts, smuggling with goods for which the excise is paid or with full or partial suspension of customs or excise duties, a measure of personal security is scheduled to be arrested at home.

Personal security measure é arrest in prison is also scheduled for nine (9) customs officials suspected of being involved in this case

“Catement of personal security measure “arrest to prison”, envisioned by Article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code, against persons under investigation customs officers I. H, K.G., I.C., A.T., M.N., G.T., G. S, E. S. and I. K, as persons suspected of committing criminal acts “smuggling by employees linked to customs activity” ) reportedly Callo. com.

The measures ʹ ban on going abroad and obligation to appear in the Judiciary Police has been assigned to the next customs official with M.D. initials. Who is suspected of criminal activity, smuggling from employees linked to customs activity.

Also, setting up a security measure .H.K., B.R., I.C., I.M., A.S., Y.S., L.C., L.C., L.S., L.C., I.C., F.Z., F.Z., G.D., N.S., L.M., D.P., A.Z., W.A., L.S.D., and the alleged customs officers involved in customs operation.

Meanwhile, the security measures -- prison arrest -- have been executed for 5 out of 15 citizens in the investigation, while the security measure of presentation obligation and a ban on exit of the state has been executed for 15 of the 20 citizens under investigation.

The Special Prosecutor has thanked the British authorities of the National Anti-crime Agency (NCA) -- the Kosovar, the Greek -- for co-operation in investigating this criminal prosecution, especially in the quick execution of requirements for mutual judicial assistance. /Periscope/