An action by the Local Police Directorate and the Korça Police Station has been finalized with the arrest of one person and the criminal prosecution of more than 15 others.
The action was carried out following information provided about a venue adapted for organizing games of chance, poker and illegal gambling activities.
During the search, the police also found the presence of narcotics. The incident took place in a bar in the village of Bulgarec, where dozens of doses of cocaine, sums of money, dozens of mobile phones and a vehicle were seized.
The owner of the bar was arrested, while the other people involved in this illegal activity were criminally prosecuted at large.
According to the data, it is learned that a police officer was also present at the bar and was prosecuted for "abuse of duty" and a disciplinary investigation has also been initiated.
The police inform that investigations are continuing to fully document the criminal activity and identify other persons involved.
Police announcement:
DVP Korça/Controls continue throughout the territory of the Korça district, to identify and crack down on illegalities.
The police operation codenamed "Organizer" is finalized.
The owner of a bar who organized gambling and distributed cocaine-type narcotics in the bar has been arrested.
14 citizens are being prosecuted for failing to report a crime, 3 others for actions that hinder the discovery of the truth.
A police officer is also being prosecuted and the Directorate of Professional Standards at the State Police has launched a disciplinary investigation against him.
Cocaine, monetary values, a vehicle, 8 cell phones, gambling cards and chips used for gambling were seized.
As a result of the controls and operational work, carried out in implementation of the special plan of measures "For the crackdown on criminal activities in the field of organizing online sports lotteries", the services of the Korça Police Commissariat, with the support of the "Eagles" Operational Forces, the Narcotics Investigation Section at the Korça Police Department and the Police Supervision Agency, Korça-Elbasan Region, finalized the operation codenamed "Organizer".
As a result, citizen AR, 57 years old, resident of Korça, was arrested in flagrante delicto for the criminal offenses of "Organizing or conducting gambling activities in violation of the law", "Making premises available for illegal gambling" and "Production and sale of narcotics".
During the search that the Police services carried out at his premises, in the village of Bulgarec, Korça, it was found that the 57-year-old had adapted the environment for gambling and the sale and use of drugs.
Meanwhile, 14 doses of suspected cocaine were found and seized as material evidence at the counter, and during an examination of his cell phone, active sports betting sites were found.
During the Police intervention in this environment, several citizens attempted to hide evidence and, following procedural actions, the materials were referred to the Prosecutor's Office, where criminal proceedings were initiated for the criminal offense of "Actions that hinder the discovery of the truth", against the citizens:
RK, resident of Korça;
FA, resident of the village of Vinçan, Korça;
HM, resident of the village of Vloçisht, Maliq.
The materials were also referred to the Prosecutor's Office, where criminal proceedings were initiated for the criminal offense of "Failure to report a crime" against 14 other citizens, who, although they were aware of the exercise of this illegal activity, did not report it to the police.
Because he was present in this environment and did not fulfill the obligations arising from the exercise of his duty, the materials were referred to the Prosecutor's Office, where criminal proceedings were initiated for the criminal offense of "Abuse of office" against citizen DL, a police officer at the Kapshtica BCP. At the same time, a disciplinary investigation was initiated against him.
At the end of the operation, as material evidence, 14 doses of suspected cocaine, a monetary amount in lek, euros, pounds and Turkish lira, a vehicle, 8 mobile phones, gambling cards and chips used for gambling were seized.
The procedural materials were referred to the Korça Prosecutor's Office for further action.