Baftije Feka, who was wanted by police, has been arrested as the sixth suspect in the anti-drug operation “Silence.” Former Culture Minister Astrit Haraqija was also detained in the same operation. Gazeta Sinjali reports, citing its sources, that 42-year-old Jeton Stanovci is suspected of leading the group involved in trafficking and distributing cocaine.
According to the names published by Sinjali, those arrested also include Albana Xhemajli-Ramadani (26), Alban Maloku (30) and Gëzim Feka (38), in addition to Feka, Stanovci and Haraqija. Kosovo Police and the Prosecutor’s Office have not confirmed the identities of these individuals or the roles attributed to them. A police statement mentions six arrests and one person released under regular procedure, without naming anyone. The suspected roles of the others, including the former minister, have not been clarified.
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Haraqija’s lawyer, Korab Bokshi, confirmed the arrest but denied that his client had any connection to the criminal offense under investigation. He told KALLXO.com that Haraqija was arrested last night, interviewed and ordered held for 48 hours.
Bokshi said investigators questioned the former minister about several people. Haraqija knows some of them because he is a public figure, while he does not know the others. According to the lawyer, nothing incriminating was found during a search of his home. He told Telegrafi that the defense has appealed the detention order.
Police sources speaking to KALLXO.com linked the case to the sale of small quantities of cocaine in Prishtina.
Operation “Silence” was carried out on November 14 in the Prishtina region by the Directorate for the Investigation of Drug Trafficking, in cooperation with the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI). Police say the operation followed a lengthy investigation during which special investigative measures were used. The investigation raised suspicions of an organized group with a defined hierarchy, extending from its leaders to street-level distributors.
During the operation, police said they seized about 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, tablets suspected to be ecstasy and an unknown substance. They also seized six vehicles; models mentioned by Sinjali include a Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes GLE, Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen Tiguan.
Other items seized include about 16,000 euros in cash in various currencies, luxury Rolex and Franck Muller watches, valuable jewelry, a firearm, ammunition, knives, digital scales, equipment for packaging narcotics, and documents and notes.
Police estimate the seized cocaine has a potential market value of about 111,000 euros. The total value of the drugs and assets is estimated at about 301,000 euros. The suspects have been detained for 48 hours, and the investigation is continuing.
Astrit Haraqija was born in 1972. From 2004 to 2008, he served as minister of Culture, Youth and Sports as a member of the Democratic League of Kosovo. He previously led the party’s youth forum in Gjakova and served as chief executive of the municipality. In 2004, he was elected to the party’s leadership.
All those mentioned are presumed innocent until their guilt is established by a final court ruling.
