A shovel with clay residue found in Armand Shakaj’s seized vehicle has reinforced the investigation team’s suspicions that 34-year-old Eglant Koçi, missing since June 4, may have been killed and then buried.
The searches have extended to several mountainous areas of Tirana and Elbasan. The investigations to unravel the incident have focused on illegal cryptocurrency activity and lending money at interest.
Eglant Koçi, missing since June 4, is suspected of being murdered and then buried. The investigation team’s suspicions are reinforced after investigators found work tools, including shovels with clay residue, in the seized Porsche vehicle of the suspected and wanted perpetrator, Armand Shakaj.
This detail, reliable sources close to investigators explain to journalist Jensila Kodra, has strengthened suspicions that the 34-year-old’s body may have been hidden in an isolated area, while searches have been ongoing for days.
In a press conference, Tirana Police Director Oliger Torba said that the checks are mainly focused in Tirana and Elbasan, in mountainous areas, while in assistance to the Albanian side, Kosovo forces are also checking with dogs.
In parallel, the search is also focused on the arrest of the suspected perpetrator, Armand Shakaj, a close friend of Eglant Koçi. The young man’s body is suspected to have remained in Shakaj’s car for more than 24 hours until, with the allusions that the vehicle had a defect, he took a cart and transported it to the Iba area. From there, without leaving a trace because the area is not covered by security cameras.
Investigators suspect that the cause of the serious incident was a heated argument between two close friends about the illegal activity of cryptocurrencies, or virtual currencies. While the failure to repay a significant amount of money is also being investigated.
The investigation team has obtained information that the wanted Armand Shakaj is suspected of lending money at interest and that through the mediation of Eglant Koçi, a sum of money may have been given to third parties. Investigators suspect that this sum has not been repaid and Armand Shakaj could hold his close friend, Eglant Koçi, responsible.