The Special Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK) has requested the confiscation of the assets of Armand and Gerti Marku's family, as they are suspected of having benefited from criminal activity.

SPAK announces that citizens Armand Marku and Gerti Marku, (Ledio Hallkokondi) have been declared internationally wanted by Interpol Rome / Italy, after the Judicial authorities of Florence, Italy with criminal decision no. 9065/15 RGNR-5609/19 RG GIP, dated 25.11 .2019, have issued an international arrest warrant for the criminal offense "Participation in a Criminal Organization for the purpose of drug trafficking", provided by the Italian Criminal Code.

For this reason, SPAK announces that it has submitted to the GJKKO (Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime) the request for confiscation of assets of these two citizens and their families.

“The Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime in Tirana, has completed the verifications related to the property proceeding no. 1/2021, in the framework of the implementation of the law no. 10192, for the prevention of corruption and other crimes through preventive measures against property” (anti-mafia law).

The Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime in Tirana has conducted a property investigation regarding the assets owned by citizens Armand Marku and Gerti Marku, as well as their close family members. Investigations have shown that:

The citizen Armand Marku, turns out to be declared internationally wanted, by Interpol Tirana, after the court of Milan with decision no. 1731, 2017 sentenced him to six years and two months in prison for the criminal offenses "Narcotics trafficking" and "cooperation in crime", provided by the Italian Criminal Code.

Also, the citizens Armand Marku and Gerti Marku, (Ledio Hallkokondi) have been declared internationally wanted by Interpol Rome / Italy, on 09.10.2020, after the Judicial authorities of Florence, Italy with the criminal decision no.9065 / 15 RGNR-5609/19 RG GIP, dated 25.11.2019, have issued an international arrest warrant for the criminal offense "Participation in a Criminal Organization for the purpose of trafficking narcotics", provided by the Italian Criminal Code.

After the verifications, according to the request of the prosecution, initially with decision no. 1, dated 09.01.2021 of the Special Court of First Instance Tirana, it was decided to seize some assets in possession by relatives of citizens Gerti Marku and Armand Marku. At the end of the property investigations conducted, it was proved that the conditions provided by law for the confiscation of sequestrated assets are met because:

a) there are reasonable suspicions, based on clues, for the participation of the person in criminal activity, provided in article 3, point 1, of law no. 10192/2009;

b) it turns out that the property is, directly or indirectly, in full or partial possession of the persons mentioned in article 3, point 1, of the law;

c) it is not proven that the property has a legal origin or the persons mentioned in article 3 of the law, fail to justify the possession of assets or income, which are disproportionate to the level of income or profits realized from legal sources of declared by them.

The Special Prosecution on 13.07.2021 has submitted to the Special Court of First Instance for Organized Crime and Corruption the request for confiscation of assets as follows:

1. Immovable property of land type, with a total area of ​​688 m2, as well as the building built on it, hotel "Harbor", located in the area "Tourism Çuka Channel" Saranda, owned by the citizen Petro Branko.

2. Immovable property of land type, with an area of ​​688 m2, together with the relevant building built on it a swimming pool, located in the area "Tourism Çuka Channel" Saranda, owned by the citizen Petro Branko.

3. Immovable property of service unit type, with an area of ​​51 m2, located on Don Bosco Street, Tirana, purchased in 2017 at a price of 105,000 euros,” it is written in the SPAK announcement.