They distributed cocaine in a nightclub, the owner and three staff members are sentenced

At the request of the Prosecution Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Berat, four citizens E.V., K.I., K.D., and R.I. were found guilty and sentenced for the criminal offense of “Production and sale of narcotics,” committed in cooperation, as provided for in Article 283/2 of the Criminal Code.

At the conclusion of the investigation and trial of criminal proceedings no. 319 of 2023, it was assessed that the charge brought against the defendants was fully proven.

The investigation began based on information from the Crime Investigation Section at the Dimal Police Station, that citizen E.V. was involved in criminal activity of distributing cocaine in the city of Dimal. From the data obtained, it was found that this citizen carried out the criminal activity of cocaine distribution at a high intensity in the city of Dimal and beyond, keeping it in various quantities.

This citizen also owns a nightclub called “Star Club,” where it was proven that clients, after consuming large amounts of alcohol, would request narcotic substances, specifically cocaine. The narcotic substance was hidden in one of the blocks of the surrounding wall of the club and was divided into small doses of 0.2 g to 0.5 g, ready for sale, with one dose being sold for 2,000–5,000 lekë. Clients, after receiving the cocaine dose, consumed it in the club’s toilet facilities. In this activity, he was also assisted by the club’s bodyguard K.D., the manager K.I., and the waiter R.Z.

From all the circumstances of the case and the evidence gathered and analyzed as above, it was proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the defendants E.V., K.I., R.Z., and K.D. carried out the sale of the narcotic substance “cocaine” in a continuous, repeated manner and over a long period of time to drug users who came as clients to the “Bar Star” club, where the narcotic substance was hidden outside the club at the back of the premises, retrieved from a box placed in the surrounding wall of the club, while the rest of the narcotic substance was kept hidden in the residence of defendant E.V. The defendants referred to the narcotic substance as “amaro” in order not to be understood when discussing the money obtained from drug sales.

From the analysis of the evidence and circumstances of the case, it is fully proven that defendant E.V. carried out the illegal activity in cooperation, specifically in the role of organizer and executor. Defendant K.D. committed the offense in the capacity of executor. He strictly followed the instructions given by co-defendant E.V. Another defendant, K.I., also committed the offense in the role of executor and undertook all steps to fully carry out the criminal act.

Meanwhile, defendant R.Z. committed the offense in the role of assistant, as he carried out all possible actions to ensure the offense was completed, taking orders from club clients for the purchase of narcotic substances and forwarding the orders to co-defendants K.I. and K.D., who acted as executors, i.e., sellers of the narcotic substance.

Based on the above, at the conclusion of the judicial investigation at the request of the Prosecution Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Berat, it was decided:

1. To declare defendant E.V. guilty of the criminal offense of “Production and sale of narcotics,” committed in cooperation, and to sentence him to 12 years of imprisonment. Pursuant to Article 406 paragraph 1, the sentence was reduced by 1/3, and the final sentence is 8 years of imprisonment.

2. To declare defendant K.I. guilty of the criminal offense of “Production and sale of narcotics,” and to sentence him to 7 years of imprisonment. Pursuant to Article 406 paragraph 1, the sentence was reduced by 1/3, and the final sentence is 4 years and 8 months of imprisonment.

3. To declare defendant K.D. guilty of the criminal offense of “Production and sale of narcotics,” and to sentence him to 7 years of imprisonment. Pursuant to Article 406 paragraph 1, the sentence was reduced by 1/3, and the final sentence is 4 years and 8 months of imprisonment.

4. To declare defendant R.I. guilty of the criminal offense of “Production and sale of narcotics,” and to sentence him to 7 years of imprisonment. Pursuant to Article 406 paragraph 1, the sentence was reduced by 1/3, and the final sentence is 4 years and 8 months of imprisonment.

“KORÇA BOOM”