Ervis Cukali , who was wanted after 21 kg of explosives were found in the vehicle he was traveling in with two others in 2022, was arrested by police in Saranda during a police operation in neighborhood no. 1 of the city on Friday evening (July 12).
On August 28, 2022, Albi Mecini was caught red-handed in the village of Vajkan, where he had left his vehicle next to explosives, on a secondary road near the roundabout in front of the "Viva" center on the way to a place called "Safari".
Meanwhile, his associates, Ervis Cukali and Arafat Manërkolli, were approaching him in another vehicle without license plates, trafficked and with a counterfeit chassis, inside which 3 cans of gasoline were seized.
According to the Prosecution, which sent the 3 young men for trial on December 7, 2024, they possessed and transported 21 kilograms and 265 grams of explosives to the city of Fier and are suspected of carrying out an assassination attempt.
The prosecution also informed that the defendants, who have previously been convicted, are suspected of being involved in serious events.
During the action in Saranda, the following were arrested:
Endri Doku, 27 years old, resident of Kamëz, for the criminal offenses of "Unlicensed Weapons Possession" and "Opposing a Public Order Police Officer";
Imer Gega, 21 years old, resident of Kamëz, for the criminal offenses of "Failure to report a crime" and "Actions that hinder the discovery of the truth";
Ervis Cukali, 27 years old, resident of Kamëz, for the criminal offenses "Failure to report a crime" and "Actions that hinder the discovery of the truth", who was also declared a wanted person for the criminal offenses "Providing conditions and material means to commit murder" and "Unauthorized possession and production of combat weapons".
The pistol, combat ammunition and the Porsche vehicle were seized as material evidence.
Police announcement:
The police operation codenamed "Diving" is being finalized by the Saranda Police Commissariat, in cooperation with the Saranda Border Police.
Another case of criminal activity of illegal possession of weapons is being investigated.
They were traveling armed with a pistol and combat ammunition, in a luxury vehicle. One of them attempted to escape by jumping into the sea, along with the bag containing the weapon.
3 citizens are arrested, including a person wanted for serious criminal offenses.
The firearm, a pistol, 16 cartridges and the "Porsche" type vehicle were seized.
Following increased controls to guarantee public order and security during the tourist season, and based on information obtained in operational channels, regarding another case of illegal possession of weapons that violated the safety of citizens, the services of the Saranda Police Commissariat, in cooperation with the Saranda Border Police, organized and successfully finalized the police operation codenamed "Diving".
As a result, in neighborhood no. 1, “Butrinti” street, Saranda, a luxury vehicle type “Porsche” was stopped for inspection, in which 3 citizens were traveling. During the actions, one of them, citizen ED, attempted to escape by jumping into the sea, along with the bag containing the firearm, with the aim of losing evidence. But thanks to the quick reaction of the Police officers, with the support of the Border Police who were on patrol in the vicinity of their boat, it became possible to catch this citizen in flagrante delicto.
Also, Saranda Police officers were able, within a very short time, to find the bag with the gun that this citizen attempted to hide by throwing it into the sea.
Following procedural actions, Crime Investigation specialists at the Saranda Police Station arrested the following citizens in flagrante delicto:
The firearm (pistol), the ammunition and the Porsche vehicle were seized as material evidence.
The procedural materials were referred to the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Saranda, for further action.