30 million EUR of drugs eliminated

This quantity was found during an inspection in 30 residences of the Mahmutaj neighborhood. Huge quantities of drugs are being burned in the neighborhood where police has not entered yet, trying to hide evidence.

The RENEA forces are advancing in every house, supported by armored vehicles. Police declared that they have identified a group of 12 people, led by citizen Altin Shurdhi. According to the police, they also found Hysen Cela, person with a criminal history, who was shooting against the police. He was arrested at 13:30 and taken to the precinct.

Altin Shurdhi’s group is not the only one that shot to the police. According to residents, there are two vans going around the village, filled with armed teenagers, all out of control.

The Head of the Commune, Dasho Aliko, appealed the people mentioned by the police to turn themselves in, and those who are armed to bring their weapons at the village’s center. Aliko appeals residents to keep children home, so that they are not manipulated by these people.

Police say they have seized two labs for processing drugs, one of which is in the house of Gate Mahmutaj, and another one in the house of his brother, Xhezo Mahmutaj. Special investigation groups, oriented by the Prosecution for Serious Crimes and the Directory of Serious Crimes at the State Police have kept investigating and registering the evidence.

Police made a public announcement yesterday, saying that they have taken seven other residences with 1.5 tons of marijuana and 2000 plants of cannabis sativa. Three automatic weapons were seized, one hunting rifle and a considerable amount of ammunition.

Police: We will shoot without hesitation against those who attack the police

The Ministry of Interior appeals the Lazarat residents to not leave their homes until the operation is over.

The Police say they are continuing the operation for arresting the people who shot the law enforcers, and for identifying and destroying the areas planted with narcotics in Lazarat, Gjirokaster.

The Ministry of Interior reiterates the appeal to the Lazarat residents to distance themselves from the criminal elements who aim to take the entire village hostage, together with its future.

All residents are asked to not leave their homes until the police operation is over. All other citizens should avoid entering Lazarat, until a further notice.

Police requested all villages around Lazarat to be careful when leaving their homes, until the operation is over.

The police is determined to shoot without warning at anyone that will try to go above the rule of law and against the police officers.

Rama: Police raising Albania’s honor
PM comments operation on Facebook, answers to opposition

While the police operation in Lazarat is on its fourth day, the developments on terrain are being followed closely by Prime Minister Rama, who is attending a visit in Germany.

Rama declared on Facebook that the Police is raising Albania’s honor in Europe with the operation that will remove Lazarat from the drug map. Rama concludes the post with the word “Grateful”.

Another Prime Minister’s message commented later the declarations of the opposition about the operation in Lazarat. “I don’t know if we should laugh or cry with what the Democratic Party says, that this operation came after the pressure given by the DP”, Rama declared.

The Prime Minister asked the opposition, which led the country for the past eight years: “Weren’t you in power during these past eight years?”

Rama reminded the opposition that Lazarat had been “blessed” to be what it was until four days ago, by the lack of police intervention.

In his third comment about this matter, Rama answers to a frequent question made in the past days: “When will the operation end in Lazarat?” Rama says: “When the rule of law will be entirely established”.

Gjirokastër, three teenagers arrested
Threw stones against police vans

The Gjirokaster Police arrested a group of teenagers who threw stones against police vehicles. They went at the Police District in protest against the police operation in Lazarat.

Some of the relatives of the people arrested during the raid protested with them, saying that their family members were not part of the attack against the police.

Gate Mahmutaj sent to Tirana
After turning himself in with five others, he is sent to Tirana

Gate Mahmutaj turned himself in at the closest police precinct. He was one of the people wanted by the police in the operation, after an enormous quantity of drug was found in his property. Police transported him to Tirana, since he will be processed by the Court of Serious Crimes.

Mahmutaj will be interrogated by the Tirana Police Directory and the capital’s prosecutors.

Tonin Mehmet Shehaj, 31, from Mallakastra, was arrested after he had been sentenced to seven years in prison for producing and distributing narcotics.

He tried to leave the village through a false identity, but he was arrested.

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