The police have finalized the operation codenamed “Scanner”, arresting a 42-year-old from Maqellara who was transporting smuggled goods from North Macedonia, as well as a customs officer from the Bllatë branch suspected of corruption and abuse of office.
Another customs employee has also been placed under investigation.
During the search, goods, a vehicle and sums of money in various currencies were seized.
Police Notification
Debar/The police operation codenamed “Scanner” is being finalized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Investigation Section.
The 42-year-old was arrested after being caught red-handed while transporting goods he had smuggled from the Republic of Macedonia.
A customs officer from the Bllate branch was also arrested, as it is suspected that through corruption, he allowed this criminal activity to be carried out.
Another customs officer from this branch is under investigation, suspected of abuse of office.
The goods, the vehicle in which they were transported, as well as sums of money in various currencies, were seized.
As a result of the rapid administration of information obtained operationally, regarding a case of smuggling of various goods through the Bllate BCP, specialists from the Economic and Financial Crimes Investigation Section finalized the “Scanner” operation.
As part of the operation:
– citizen AC, 42 years old, resident of the village of Maqellarë, was arrested for the criminal offenses “Active corruption of persons exercising public functions”, “Smuggling of other goods”, “Smuggling of prohibited or restricted goods”, “Trading and transporting contraband goods” and “Hiding income”;
– citizen AL, 51 years old, resident of Tirana, working as a customs officer at the Bllate Customs Branch, was arrested for the criminal offenses “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions” and “Abuse of office”;
– proceedings were initiated against citizen EM, 50 years old, resident of Korça, working as a customs officer at the Bllate Customs Branch, for the criminal offense “Abuse of office”.
In the territory of the Maqellarë administrative unit, an “Opel” vehicle driven by a 42-year-old man was stopped. During the search, suspected smuggled goods (boxes of detergents and packaging materials) were found in the vehicle, as they were not equipped with purchase invoices.
From further investigations into this case, it is suspected that the 2 customs officers abused their position, favoring the 42-year-old man for committing this criminal activity.
The procedural materials were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Dibër, for further action.