Tirana police have finalized the operation codenamed "Picalla" , striking a suspected weapons base that served to supply criminal groups.
During the intervention, a large arsenal of weapons was seized in a residence in the village of Picallë, including 9 firearms ( 5 automatic weapons, 1 rifle and 3 pistols), 1 shotgun, silencer, combat ammunition , as well as equipment similar to those of the Police, including uniforms and various equipment.
In total, around 900 cartridges were found, as well as explosive materials such as fuses and detonating caps.
As part of the operation, the police arrested citizen MH, 66 years old, in flagrante delicto, while the suspected owner of the base, citizen OQ, 41 years old, was declared wanted.
According to police, the base was suspected of being used to supply criminal groups with weapons and ammunition.
The seized weapons and materials will be examined at the Scientific Police Institute to verify their use in various criminal events.
Investigations continue to capture the wanted person and fully document the criminal activity.
Police announcement:
Tirana/The police operation codenamed "Picalla" is finalized.
A weapons base suspected of serving to supply criminal groups is struck.
9 firearms (5 automatics, 1 rifle and 3 pistols), 1 shotgun, silencer, uniforms and equipment similar to those of the Police, around 900 live ammunition, incendiary fuses and detonator caps were seized.
The owner of the weapons base is wanted, while a 66-year-old mother and son are arrested.
As a result of the rapid administration of information obtained through operational-legal channels, that an arms base was being maintained in the village of "Picalla" with the aim of selling weapons to criminal groups, the Police services organized and finalized the police operation codenamed "Picalla".
During the operation, it was possible to identify and strike this weapons base. From the search carried out in the apartment of citizen OQ, 5 automatic firearms, 1 rifle firearm, 3 pistol firearms, 1 shotgun, 1 bayonet, silencer, uniforms and equipment similar to those of the Police, as well as around 900 combat cartridges of various calibers, fuses and detonator caps were found and seized.
Following the actions, citizen MH, 66 years old, resident of Tirana, was arrested in flagrante delicto, while citizen OQ, 41 years old, resident of Tirana, was declared wanted.
The weapons will be sent to the Institute of Scientific Police for expertise, in order to verify their use in criminal events.
Intensive work continues to capture the wanted citizen and to fully document this criminal activity.
The procedural materials were referred to the Tirana Prosecutor's Office for further action.