The Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Fier has undertaken an investigative action against the concession company "Bankers Petroleum Albania", within the framework of a criminal case for tax evasion and money laundering.
The operation was carried out in accordance with a decision of the Fier Court, which authorized searches of premises related to the company's activities. The court also ordered security measures for some of its current and former managers.
As part of this action, the following were arrested:
Leonidha Çobo , former administrator of the company and Hongping Xiao , Chinese citizen and currently director at the company.
Another Albanian citizen, whose identity is not yet known, has also been detained.
The investigations have focused on suspected tax evasion schemes and transactions suspected of being aimed at money laundering.
According to sources, police officers have forcibly entered the company's headquarters.
Bankers Petroleum has been accused in the past by the Tax Directorate of failing to settle fiscal obligations to the state.
Bankers has also been accused for a long time of the pollution it causes in the area as a result of oil extraction activities, without respecting standards.