FOOTAGE + NAMES / Casino selling drugs uncovered, 15 people charged, one arrested, organizer wanted. Millions of lekë, cocaine, and… seized

As part of the police operation codenamed “Fishat,” Bledar Arapi was arrested in flagrante, Elger Uka was declared wanted, and 15 individuals found in the casino were charged.

Announcement:

State Police

The operation “Fishat” was carried out by the Sector for the Investigation of Economic and Financial Crime within the Criminal Police Department, in cooperation with the Directorate of the Special Operational Force.

Authorities uncovered a three-story building adapted for a casino and drug use.

Millions of lekë, euros, and dollars, cocaine, slot machines, a poker table, playing cards, and chips were seized.

The casino manager was arrested, and the organizer who had rented the three-story building and adapted it into a casino was declared wanted.

Fifteen individuals found inside the casino playing gambling games on slot machines and at the poker table were charged.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Professional Standards within the General Directorate of the State Police immediately launched a disciplinary investigation into several police officers and managers who failed to take action to detect and combat this illegality.

Operation details:

Based on information that a casino for gambling and drug use was operating in a three-story building on “Gjergj Fishta” Boulevard in Lezhë, the Special Operational Force, in cooperation with the Sector for the Investigation of Economic and Financial Crime, organized and carried out the operation.

During the search of the rented building, floors two and three had been adapted for gambling and drug use. Police seized 15 slot machines, a poker table, chips, playing cards, several doses of cocaine, 725,000 lekë, as well as euros and dollars.

Bledar Arapi, 47, was arrested in flagrante for:

“Production and sale of narcotics”

“Organizing or conducting gambling activities against the law”

“Providing premises for illegal gambling”

“Concealment of income”

“Non-payment of taxes and duties”

“Money laundering from criminal activity or products of crime”

Elger Uka, 24, was declared wanted for the same crimes, as investigations revealed he had rented the building used as a casino. Efforts to capture him are ongoing.

The 15 individuals found gambling in the casino were also charged.

The Prosecutor’s Office continues to document the full legal case, while the Directorate of Professional Standards investigates the responsibilities of officials tasked with preventing and combating illegal gambling activities.

Procedural materials have been referred to the Prosecutor’s Office of the First Instance Court of Lezhë for further action.

“KORÇA BOOM”