
Durrës police have cracked down on a prostitution ring, arresting two Chinese citizens and the owner of the apartments they had rented for illegal activity.
According to the investigation, the two Chinese nationals had rented two apartments in neighborhood no. 13 without a contract and had adapted them for prostitution activities.
Communication with customers is suspected to have been conducted through a call center outside Albania, which has raised suspicions of the involvement of an international network.
Police announcement:
DVP Durrës/Successive operations continue to crack down on the illegal activity of exploitation for prostitution.
The police operation codenamed "Storm 5" is being finalized by the Illicit Trafficking Investigation Sector, after a several-week investigation, using proactive methods.
They had adapted 2 rented apartments (without contracts) for the practice of prostitution, 2 Chinese citizens were arrested.
The apartment owner, who had rented the premises without a contract, was also arrested.
7 citizens (2 Chinese and 5 Albanians) are being prosecuted.
Sums of money, cell phones, and bank cards are seized.
Specialists of the Trafficking Investigation Section, after a two-week investigation, using proactive methods, for the criminal offenses "Exploitation of prostitution", "Prostitution" and "Adaptation of premises for prostitution", carried out in cooperation with the services of the Durrës Police Commissariat and the "Eagle" Special Force, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office, finalized the "Storm 5" operation.
As a result of this operation, in neighborhood no. 13, Durrës, Chinese citizens D. Sh., 54 years old, and SY, 40 years old, were arrested.
Also, citizen SM, 39 years old, resident of neighborhood no. 13, was arrested after he had rented out apartments, without contracts, and had adapted them for the exploitation of prostitution.
Further, as part of the operation, 2 Chinese citizens and 5 Albanian citizens were prosecuted at large for the criminal offense of "Prostitution".
As material evidence, passports of Chinese citizens, sums of money, cell phones, credit cards, etc. were seized.
From the investigative actions carried out within the framework of this proceeding, it resulted that the two arrested Chinese citizens had rented, without contracts, 2 apartments in neighborhood no. 13, which they had adapted for the exploitation of prostitution.
In cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office, investigations are continuing, as it is suspected that there are other citizens involved in this activity, which is suspected to be based abroad, as it turned out that the calls were made through a call center.
The procedural materials were referred to the Durrës Prosecutor's Office for further action.