Alfredo Hamazi and Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku) are the two ‘heads’ of the criminal groups targeted by SPAK and involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. From the investigative file that VNA has, it results that Koçeku and Hamzai have a strong interaction, helping each other in cocaine trafficking, money laundering and for labor in laboratories in Ecuador.
As part of the investigations against these individuals, who are suspected of having laundered proceeds from drug trafficking in Albania, the name of businessman Samir Mane is also mentioned in the SPAK file.
According to SPAK, in September 2020, Alfredo Hamzai and Adrian Rama communicated by phone regarding the project to build a villa and apartment complex in the Palasa area. Investigators have also uncovered communications between the persons under investigation, Alfredo Hamzai and Luçiano Koçeku, where the same project is discussed.
“On 30.01.2021, Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku) writes that he told “Liri” (it is suspected that this could be Ilir Shtufi) to go meet “Zamiri” (it is suspected that this is Samir Mane) to discuss construction on the land. From the photos exchanged in the conversation, the fact that the two citizens communicate regarding the lands in Palasa is proven,” the file states.
Furthermore, SPAK highlights another communication between Hamzai and Koçek, which talks about giving a sum of money ranging from 2 to 3 million euros to businessman Samir Mane, in order to secure a building permit for the residential project. According to prosecutors, businessman Ilir Shtufi is suspected of having served as a possible intermediary in the communications between Samir Mane and the persons under investigation.
“According to the communication, the citizens have planned to build about 30 villas and a hotel. The intermediary in this communication with citizen Samir Manë is suspected to be businessman Ilir Shtufi,” the file states.
In another conversation in February 2021, SPAK evidences that Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku) communicated to Alfredo Hamzai that Samir Mane had requested 3 million euros for the inclusion of the latter’s land in the project.
“In the conversation dated 24.02.2021, the person under investigation Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku) writes to the person under investigation Alfredo Hamzai that he spoke with Liri (Ilir Shtufi) and Zamir (Samir Mane), and the latter told him that he wanted three million euros to include Alfredo Hamzai’s land in the complex,” the SPAK file states.
According to the same file, in another communication conducted during February 2021, it is evidenced that the persons under investigation had decided to choose the payment option of 3 million euros for the inclusion of Alfredo Hamzai’s land in the “Green Coast” complex.
“Given the fact that the person under investigation, Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku) states that “he may ask us for another 1 million euros in cash from Zamiri”, it is suspected that the latter has already been given a sum of money, which is suspected to be 1 million euros. From the analysis of the conversation, it is concluded that the agreement with Samir Mane is that the latter will receive the payment of three million euros and will carry out the construction of 40 villas, of which 20% will be given to the person under investigation, Alfredo Hamzai. As for the hotel, Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku) states that he has requested the hotel with 120 rooms and it will belong to the latter and Hamzai”, the file states.
In another communication managed by SPAK, Alfredo Hamzai talks to a person identified as Ardian Zykaj. According to the content of this conversation, Hamzai claims that the agreement with businessman Samir Mane for the project in Palasa had been finalized.
In another conversation between Alfredo Hamzai and a person named Ardian Zykaj, Hamzai writes that the deal with businessman Samir Mane for the project in Palasa has been closed. According to the communication, Samir Mane would receive three million euros to build the villa complex on Alfredo Hamzai’s property. This would allegedly be made possible by making an addition to the “Green Coast 1” project.
SPAK has also identified communications between Adrian Rama and Luçiano Koçeku (alias Artur Koçeku), who is mentioned in the file as a person under investigation in connection with other matters, including suspicions of alienation of properties in Zvërnec, where a tourist resort is expected to be built. According to the file, Artur Shehu is suspected of having helped Alfredo Hamzai secure properties in the Palasa area.
The file also mentions the name of businessman Orest Sota. According to SPAK’s investigations, he communicated with Alfredo Hamzai regarding the project in Palasa. Prosecutors note that, in August 2020, Hamzai and Sota held conversations that are suspected of being related to the project planned to be built on the “Green Coast 1” area.
Investigations into this matter continue, while the allegations included in the investigative file constitute suspicions of the prosecution and do not constitute proof of the guilt of the aforementioned persons, without a final judicial decision./vna.al