Smuggling hit on Kakavijë-Gjirokastër route, two arrested and 22,695 euros seized

Two people were arrested as part of the police operation “Excise 3”, which led to the discovery of a suspected case of goods smuggling from Greece to Albania.

The suspects were caught red-handed while traveling by bus on the “Kakavijë-Gjirokastër” road axis.

Arrested were O. L., 43, and M. D., 43, both residents of Tirana. The action was undertaken by specialists of the Economic and Financial Crime Investigation Section, based on information provided by the Regional Police Oversight Agency of Vlorë-Gjirokastër, and as part of controls against goods smuggling.

The bus, which was driven in shifts by the two 43-year-olds, was stopped by police services along the “Kakavijë-Gjirokastër” route.

The check revealed 100 cigarette cartons and the amount of 22,695 euros in closed and concealed spaces. Further quantities of goods were found in the vehicle’s luggage compartment.

Among the items discovered on the bus were boxes of seafood and meat, dairy products, boxes of medications, and 13 bags of clothing of various brands. According to investigators’ suspicions, these goods were smuggled from Greece with the intention of bringing them into Albanian territory.

The bus, the mobile phone, the discovered goods, and the money were seized as material evidence. Police suspect that the case may be linked to a wider smuggling activity, while investigations continue to fully document the event.

The two arrested are suspected of committing the criminal offenses “Smuggling of prohibited or restricted goods,” “Smuggling of goods subject to excise duty or with full or partial suspension from customs or excise obligations,” “Smuggling of other goods,” and “Trading and transporting goods that are contraband.”

Additionally, suspicions have been raised against them for “Failure to declare money and valuable items at the border,” “Concealment of income,” and “Laundering the proceeds of the criminal offense or criminal activity.”

The investigative group is working to discover if other individuals were also involved in this activity. The case materials have been sent to the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Gjirokastër for further proceedings.