Five young people from Tirana and Kavaja have been arrested in the village of Gjashtë, Saranda, after they were caught with two pistols, ammunition and a silencer.
The police operation was codenamed “Silenciotori”, as according to the police, the group was suspected of preparing to carry out an assassination.
The two main people arrested are Sidorel Moriseni, 32 years old, resident of Tirana, and Alfred Kaja, 26 years old, resident of Kavaja, both with criminal records.
According to the police, they were caught red-handed near a bar, while removing two firearms, cartridges, and a silencer from the vehicle.
According to preliminary investigations, the group had set up an ambush in an unlit area, waiting for the right moment to commit a murder.
The other three people, who are suspected of being their companions, were caught in a second vehicle. They are Vitrin Hoxha, 20 years old, resident of Kavaja, Vonis Poka, 31 years old, resident of Tirana, and Franko Bobja, 21 years old, resident of Kavaja.
Sources from the investigation indicate that the arrested were caught in an alley near the apartment of businessman Rexhep Ismaili, who was murdered on May 7 in his bar in Qafë Gjashtë. The murder of the 66-year-old shocked Saranda.
Ismaili, who was also the chairman of the “Çamëria” Association, was executed with a bullet to the head during a gunfight in his bar.
Investigations revealed that he was not the target of the attack, but was killed after intervening to protect Viktor Ruci, a person with a criminal record.
Currently, investigators are verifying whether the group’s presence in this area is related to the May 7th incident or if it was a coincidence. So far, none of the arrested have given statements about the suspected target.