Police armored cars enter Lazarat

The police advanced today in the southern area of the Lazarat village. The officers have positioned more armored vehicles in the area where they had a fire exchange with some residents.

A group of persons positioned in a nearby hill fired against the police, with bullets hitting the village’s houses. The shots were heard during the night and one 32-year-old officer of the Shkoder Special Forces was wounded, out of life threatening danger.

The Lazarat residents have started burning the cannabis they produced one year ago, and have eradicated them in other fields. The police took under control the area near the storehouse of Gate Mahmutaj, who has disappeared.

He tried to justify himself in a recent TV interview, but police found a mortar missile at his storehouse, burning barrels with cannabis, bullet shells and marijuana saplings.

Police say they have arrested six people for the attack against the A1 Report journalists, Matjas Muhamet Bocia, 23; Florian Nexhip Shurdhi, 29; Juxhin Avdul Bocia, 19; Xhevahir Miftar Doci, 29; Ali Mato Basha, 46; Emiljano Bejko Aliko, 31, most from Lazarat and some from nearby Gjirokaster villages.

These citizens appeared at the Gjirokaster Police yesterday. After verifying discrepancies in their declarations, the police has arrested them as suspects.

These citizens, in cooperation with other people, have undertaken the attack against the police on June 15th and 16th, when the officers were following the operation for identifying the cultivated fields.

Police reported for two people wounded during the afternoon, one 19-year-old from Ura Vajgurore, who worked as a shepherd in the area and was wounded in his leg and his hand, and a 33-year-old from Pogradec, both out of life threatening danger.

Police has inspected 20 houses in Lazarat, where they have found considerable amounts of cultivated cannabis, machineries for processing them and large quantities of ammunition. The Interior Minister was also in Gjirokaster.

“It is very important to understand that the time when the criminal world in Lazarat had ties with the Parliament and politics, the ones who exploited them, is now over. What you are seeing today is the best example of our determination to establish the rule of law in every corner of Albania. We are determined to save te honest citizens of Lazarat from the criminals who are withholding them”, declared Minister Saimir Tahiri.

800 police forces have surrounded the area, coming from the Gjirokaster Police, the RENEA Special Forces, the Special Forces of Fier, Shkoder, Tirana and the Vlore Delta Forces.

Other special services have been included in this operation from Police Directories of other Districts, such as the elite service forces of Tirana, Shkoder, etc.

These forces have had support from special vehicles. Based on the plan, police will continue eliminating the cultivated parcels and bring to justice everyone involved in the attack against the State Police.

The Prosecution of Serious Crimes and the Directory of Serious Crimes at the State police have established special investigation groups, who are coordinating their work with the police.

Top Channel’s journalist, Anila Hoxha, has been able to enter Lazarat together with the Special Forces. She is currently at the Mahmutaj village, which is now under the control of the police. The entire neighborhood is in smoke, since considerable amounts of cannabis are being burned. The police agents are searching from outside the residences, since they are not allowed to enter.

Sources say that no shots are being fired for the moment.

Gate Mahmutaj: Ready to turn myself in
Top Channel in the Lazarat area that is not under police control

Top Channel’s journalist, Kristina Fidhi, entered the area of Lazarat that is not under the police control. She took an interview from Gate Mahmutaj, at his house, with him declaring that he is ready to turn himself in at the police. He appeals the police to not shoot against the village.

“I want to make an appeal to our fellow villagers to not shoot against the police. They must leave the state to do its job, and I will face justice, but I cannot turn myself in for the moment”, Gate Mahmutaj declared.

When asked by Top Channel if he means that he is willing to turn himself in, and what stops him from doing it, he declared:

“There are guns everywhere now. Some villagers are shooting. The police is down there with snipers. I don’t want clashes or losses of lives from the state or the village. I spoke with a person I know and asked him to bring me a lawyer, so that I can feel safe. There are roadblock everywhere and I fear for any abuse. Everything is possible”, Mahmutaj declared.

Ministry of Defense: Avoid Lazarat

The Ministry of Defense appeals the Lazarat residents to not leave their homes, for security reasons, while others should avoid going through the village.

“All other citizens should absolutely avoid entering Lazarat until a second notice from the police. The police is ready to help all citizens at any time”, the press release says.

Gunfight escalated

The gunfire exchange between the police and criminals inside and around Lazarat have escalated during noon.

Top Channel’s correspondent in Gjirokaster, Kristina Fidhi, reported that some armored cars of the Police Special Forces have entered the village and surrounded the area.

Shots have been reported coming from two houses and from the mountain. The person firing them might be armed very heavily.

The presence of the police might increase in the next hours. The Lazarat residents are still burning the marijuana that they had stocked.

The Interior Minister has entered Gjirokaster, expected to have a meeting with local government leaders, including the Head of the Lazarat Commune, Dasho Aliko.

Police appealed citizens to not join drug criminals

The police declared that they are determined to eliminate the narcotics and bring to justice all people who have opposed the officers during these days, by wounding one of them.

“The police appeals these armed persons to surrender, because we are determined to accomplish our mission and they cannot escape the law”, the communication says.

“Any resistance will only make it more difficult”, the announcement warns.

The police appeals the Lazarat residents to cooperate and identify the criminals who are confroting the police.

Top Channel