"They sent us to our deaths without protection, armed only with...” / Former police officer speaks out after the Maliq tragedy: “Our lives were worth less than a few cannabis plants"

A former State Police officer, Aldi Bylyku, has reacted following the tragic incident in Maliq, where police officer Enea Mekolli was killed, publishing a lengthy and powerful testimony about the conditions under which, according to him, officers worked during operations to apprehend highly dangerous individuals.

In his account, the former officer explains that he served at the Maliq Police Commissariat from 2017 to 2021 and took part in several operations aimed at capturing Violand Braçellari. He claims that officers were often sent into the field with insufficient personnel, inadequate protective equipment, and limited logistical resources.

According to him, interventions supported by special units such as FNSH or RENEA were rare, while most operations were carried out by officers from the local police station and other local structures. The former officer alleges that operational teams often consisted of only a few police officers, with only one or two carrying automatic weapons while the rest were equipped with pistols. He also recounts that shortages of vehicles and fuel directly affected the organization of operations.

In his testimony, he mentions specific cases in which officers were ordered to remain in the field for days waiting for suspects, despite the high level of danger and the lack of security measures.

He also raises questions for the leaders of the State Police and responsible institutions, demanding transparency regarding operations carried out over the years, the number of officers involved, the equipment used, and the actual measures taken to protect them.

At the end of his statement, the former officer expresses condolences to the family of the late officer Enea Mekolli and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured colleague, while calling for fundamental changes to the law and regulations governing the State Police. He declares that he is ready to give public testimony and confront any police leader who disputes his claims, insisting that the issues he has raised are real and well known among officers who have served in the field.

BYLYKU'S STATEMENT

A tragedy that was expected...

Taking the recent event in Maliq as a starting point, I would like to take a few minutes of your time to explain how part of the dark side of the police system functions.

I am not speaking as an ordinary citizen simply expressing an opinion, but as a former police officer who participated several times in operations to capture Violand Braçellari. Regarding the specific incident, I cannot comment on its circumstances because I do not know exactly how it happened and I do not want to rely on rumors from online portals, but I can tell you what I personally experienced during my years of service.

I am writing this to represent many police officers who have no opportunity to speak publicly about the problems, stress, dangers, and pressures they face every day.

I served at the Maliq Police Commissariat from 2017 to 2021 and took part in several operations to capture this individual. In most cases, search teams consisted of 5–7 police officers, often without sufficient protective equipment (bulletproof vests).

Operations supported by FNSH or RENEA were rare. Most were carried out by officers from the Maliq Commissariat, sometimes accompanied by agents from the Local Police Directorate and members of the "Shqiponja" Unit. Information about the suspect's dangerousness was endless, and we all knew how dangerous the person we were looking for was, but the orders were clear: "we had to carry out the search."

(We had to play with death.)

Often, the team consisted of only one or two officers carrying automatic weapons, while the rest had pistols. There were even occasions when, while moving through the field, we carried improvised sticks to protect ourselves from dogs because the instructions were to avoid using firearms even in such situations.

One reason operations were conducted with so few officers was the lack of logistical resources because fuel was limited and rationed, while the vehicles of senior officials had "more important duties." Often, only one vehicle was available, and sometimes it even lacked proper brakes. When we had two vehicles and 9–10 officers, we considered ourselves lucky.

(Drones were unimaginable.)

Let me give just one example.

One day, together with four colleagues, we discovered several cannabis plants in a stream. We informed our superiors, and the order was to remain there until evening in the hope that the person cultivating them would appear (Violandi was expected). It was only a verbal order, and everyone knew the danger was significant. In the police force, it happens very often that orders are not written down because those responsible are skilled enough to leave no trace of accountability.

For several days, two teams of 4–5 officers each remained there on duty. I remember that my office colleague had just become the father of a baby girl and still had to be there because he was responsible for covering that area.

Today, when I think back on that situation, I realize how much luck was on our side.

I also remember a case when one of the Police's new Land Rover vehicles arrived in the area. Instead of being used to facilitate the operation, it was kept away from rough terrain out of fear that it might be damaged or scratched by bushes. The appearance of the vehicle seemed more important, and officers were forced to continue several extra kilometers on foot.

Another case occurred when two friends of Violandi were arrested after an operation. My colleague and I received a reward from the director at the time: a full 10 liters of fuel. We were embarrassed to even go and collect it from the gas station.

These are not stories I heard from others; they are situations I experienced personally, and it saddens me that our lives were worth no more than a few cannabis plants.

Therefore, if transparency and accountability are being sought regarding the recent incident, I believe several past issues should also be reviewed, and the Police Director should provide clear answers...

About the searches carried out over the years in the homes and premises used by this individual.

How many officers took part in these operations, and with what equipment did they go?

What security measures were actually implemented to protect them?

Have the officers who participated in these operations ever been asked about the difficulties and dangers they faced?

Why did the Municipality of Maliq never take action to demolish this person's illegal stable structures, while ordinary citizens would be punished for building even a small wall without a permit?

The answers to these questions can be found in the files and, above all, among the police officers themselves.

Perhaps it took the pain of a mother and a family for Albanians to hear a small part of what many police officers have endured in silence for years and continue to suffer because of incompetent leaders loyal to the party.

I was friends and colleagues with Edison Mekolli, Enea's brother, whom a cruel illness took away far too early in the prime of his youth, and for whom the State Police did not provide assistance for treatment, simply leaving him to his fate.

I was also friends and colleagues with Enea, with whom I worked in the Traffic Police sector, yet strangely he was transferred from time to time by superiors without any concrete reason.

May my friends rest in peace!

Still, I will try not to make this too long because the stories of the dark realities and sacrifices of police officers are endless. I cannot claim that my words will be heard by the Director of the Albanian State Police or anyone else in a high position who could make a difference, because that never happens, but I cannot remain silent about the injustices done to my colleagues, which are far greater than most people can imagine.

Once again, my condolences to Enea's family and best wishes for a speedy recovery to Edison Adri!

Respect and gratitude to every police officer, who are the silent and unseen heroes of the Albanian people.

God bless them!

PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE A RADICAL CHANGE IS NEEDED IN THE REGULATIONS AND LAW OF THE ALBANIAN STATE POLICE.

Note: I am ready to publicly discuss my experience and confront any of the leaders who have served in Korça and may claim that these things never happened. I am also prepared to provide more information if requested by the relevant institutions.

My dream, inherited from my father and grandfather, was to become a police officer, but... in Albania, dreams remain unfinished....

"KORÇA BOOM"