NAMES/ From “Boraqi,” who had evaded police for years, to people with criminal records: who are those arrested in Sarandë over narcotics

Operation “Autumn,” carried out by Sarandë Police following a months-long investigation, has led to the arrest of 20 people, including 49-year-old Altin Arapi, also known as Altin Demiri and by the nickname “Boraqi.”

Arapi is considered one of the people with an extensive involvement in the distribution of cocaine in Sarandë.

Sources say that Arapi’s name had been on the radar of police structures for years and that he was suspected of being involved in investigations into narcotics-related activity in the Sarandë area.

According to the same sources, tracking him had been difficult because of suspicions that Arapi might have had advance information about police operations.

One of the incidents mentioned in his history occurred on January 20, 2022, when police intervened to search him. According to information made public at the time, no narcotics were found during the search, while he was arrested for resisting police officers.

His name was also mentioned in another investigation in May 2025, following the case of a 15-year-old girl who arrived at Sarandë Hospital in an intoxicated state after allegedly consuming around 5 grams of cocaine.

Arapi was one of the people questioned as part of the checks into the incident.

His latest arrest is not the first time the 49-year-old has faced the justice authorities. Around eight years ago, he was arrested in Tirana together with two other people from Sarandë after they were found in possession of a quantity of cocaine. He spent several months in prison over the incident.

In January 2021, Arapi’s name was also mentioned following a police intervention in Delvinë. In that case, a person was escorted for questioning after police received information that he might become involved in a conflict with Arapi. The escorting was carried out as a preventive measure.

Other arrested individuals with criminal records

In addition to Arapi, several people with previous criminal records are also among those arrested as part of Operation “Autumn.”

Feliks Filija, 27, is one of the names involved in the operation. He has been mentioned as a friend of Elvis Çaushllari, known as “Vis Korçari.” Filija was arrested in 2020 in Elbasan for the criminal offenses of “intentional murder,” attempted and committed in cooperation, as well as “illegal possession of weapons.”

Medi Myftaraj, 35, was arrested in September 2017 in Skrapar after it emerged that he had been sentenced by the Vlora Court to 3 years and 4 months in prison for “production and sale of narcotics.” Around 500 grams of cannabis sativa were found during a search of his home. In March 2023, he was arrested again in Ksamil, where another quantity of narcotics was found in his possession.

Fabjo Berhamaj, 30, was extradited from Germany in 2016 after it emerged that he had been sentenced by the Fier Court to 7 years in prison for “production and sale of narcotics.” He also has a criminal record in Sarandë for “illegal border crossing.”

Devis Saliaj, 22, was stabbed on June 6, 2025, in the “Eucalyptus” area of Sarandë. He had previously been arrested in September 2023, in Tirana’s Kodra e Diellit area, as part of a group suspected of distributing cannabis sativa and cocaine. Saliaj was arrested again in Tirana in December 2025.

Erjon Dido, 41, known by the nickname “Macistja,” was arrested in October 2018 in Sarandë after being found in possession of a quantity of cannabis sativa and being investigated for “production and sale of narcotics.” In December 2024, he was again subject to proceedings as part of a group.

Dhimitri Terolli, 33, known by the nickname “Miço Evgjiti,” has been involved in several previous incidents with police, mainly for the criminal offense of “theft.” In one case, he was also subject to proceedings for “minor intentional injury.”

Nazif Refitaj, 24, was arrested in 2021 in Patos for the criminal offense of “theft committed in cooperation.”