Ermal Beqiri’s Arrest in France, Police: Initially Detained by Air Forces, Then Handed to Gendarmerie

The State Police have provided details regarding the arrest in France of Ermal Beqiri, declared wanted by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) after the AKSHI affair.

In the official announcement published late on July 28, the police clarify that the 44-year-old Ermal Beqiri was initially detained by the French Air and Space Force, which then referred the case to the French Gendarmerie structures.

Currently, he is placed in pre-trial detention, while today (July 29) he is expected to appear before the Criminal Court of Amiens, where the international search for him will be formally communicated, in view of the extradition procedures to Albania.

The Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime has imposed on this citizen the personal security measure “Arrest in prison,” for the criminal offenses “Unlawful deprivation of liberty,” “Illegal competition through violence,” committed in the special form of cooperation, that of a structured criminal group, “Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,” “Structured criminal group,” “Commission of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and structured criminal group,” as well as “Laundering of the proceeds of crime.”

Announcement:

Following close cooperation between Interpol Tirana and Interpol Lyon, France, and after exchange of information between the two structures, French authorities have confirmed the arrest in the city of Amiens, France, of the 44-year-old citizen Ermal Beqiri, declared internationally wanted at the request of the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK).

The Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime has imposed on this citizen the personal security measure “Arrest in prison,” for the criminal offenses “Unlawful deprivation of liberty,” “Illegal competition through violence,” committed in the special form of cooperation, that of a structured criminal group, “Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,” “Structured criminal group,” “Commission of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and structured criminal group,” as well as “Laundering of the proceeds of crime.”

The citizen Ermal Beqiri was initially detained by the French Air and Space Force, which then referred the case to the French Gendarmerie structures.

Currently, he is placed in pre-trial detention. Tomorrow he is expected to appear before the Criminal Court of Amiens, where the international search for him will be formally communicated, in view of the extradition procedures to Albania.

Arrest

Businessman Ermal Beqiri, declared internationally wanted by SPAK, was arrested by French authorities after an air incident near a nuclear power plant.

Beqiri, for whom the security measure “Arrest in prison” in absentia has been imposed, is accused of benefiting from public tenders and now extradition procedures to Albania are expected to follow. According to French media, Beqiri was detained after an air incident near the Penly nuclear power plant in Seine-Maritime. The small civil aircraft he was piloting flew over the protected area of the plant, prompting French authorities to escort him with an Air Force vehicle to Albert airport. After landing, the pilot was detained by police. French media report that Ermal B. was previously known to French and Albanian justice for matters related to financial fraud, organized fraud, and illegal cyber activities.

During the search, police found three “AirTag” tracking devices hidden in his clothing, while investigators are verifying the circumstances of the incident and whether he may have acted under the influence of another person. Beqiri claimed he had made a mistake with the flight altitude and that at the moment of passing over the plant he was talking on the phone with his mother. He was fined 7,000 euros for violating the restricted airspace and was handed over to authorities for further procedures, including extradition to Albania.

The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) had previously imposed the security measure “arrest in prison” in absentia on Beqiri, at the request of the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK). Beqiri owns the company “Soft & Solution” and is accused of obtaining tenders worth over 1.1 million euros after threats that Ergys Agasi’s right-hand man made to a company involved in one of the many competitions.