Scandal in Tirana: Aesthetic clinic had surgeons, the cook had taken the lead

Clinical “International Medicare”, part of the “network Sante Plus Group”, where the cook had taken the lead instead of licensed surgeons and doctors.

During the operation, codenamed “Bilanci”, Tirana Police forces arrested the only one who figured as administrator, 62-year-old Edmond Zaja, in effect the clinic's cook, who will appear before the Court on Monday for Security Measure.

While the two collaborators -- Bilal Kara, Turkish citizens and Albanian Geriana Arapi -- have been declared at large and are allegedly abroad. In the clinic's facilities, investigators found 100 blocks of uninfigurated bills, 27 types of forbidden medicine, expired and smuggled, used for aesthetic intervention like botox, strands, and even hair planting. Pays for patients were paid in cash, without bills, while employees were paid in cash and without insurance. A informal activity, covered with luxury and modern facades, but it hid behind it a scheme of fraud and danger to life.

One of the main shareholders, Bilal Kara, is not an unknown name. It turns out to be the Honourary Consul of Northern Macedonia in Izmir, chairman of the Turkish-North Macedonian Business Council at DEIC, as well as a member of the Albania-Turkey Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, it is in international search and Albanian authorities are in contact with partners for its location and extradition. The “International Medicare” clinic has been blocked, as investigations continue to clear the real network and responsibles behind this multimillion-euro fraud.

This is not just a case of tax evasion, but a strong alarm for the way dangerous businesses operate in Tirana, out of control, putting public health and the integrity of state institutions at risk.