The disappearance of the former SHIK official in 2011, the London police appeal for the capture of Ilir Kumbaro

2025-08-06 20:05:25Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Ilir Kumbaron

Although 13 years have passed since the mysterious disappearance in London of a former senior National Intelligence Service official, convicted in absentia for the disappearance of Remzi Hoxha, the London Metropolitan Police has returned to the search to find him.

This is the appeal of the Metropolitan Police in London provided by Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu, where the public is asked to help with information that will reveal the whereabouts of Ilir Kumbaro who broke his parole.

The appeal is accompanied by a photo of the important former SHISH official when he was handcuffed in September 2008 for the purpose of extradition to Albania.

"This person, now 70 years old, failed to appear in 2011 after an arrest warrant issued by Albania for crimes related to kidnapping and torture," says the Metropolitan Police.

These are the only footage that shows Ilir Kumbaro in 2010 after he appeared in a police station signing as a conditional release measure.

In December 2011, the day when the London court was going to read the decision to extradite him or not to Albania, Ilir Kumbaro did not appear.

When 13 years have passed since this event, it is still not revealed today whether Ilir Kumbaro was able to leave the United Kingdom or is hiding there perfectly, avoiding extradition to Albania.

In 2012, the former Court of Serious Crimes in Tirana, sentenced Ilir Kumbaro in absentia to 15 years for the kidnapping and torture of the Albanian-Macedonian businessman Remzi Hoxha.

In the same court, on October 16, 2011, the prosecution withdrew the charges against Arben Sefgjini, former deputy director in the Directorate of SHIK in Tirana, and for Avdi Koldashi, former head of the observation base no. 10 in SHIK, declaring them innocent.

According to the prosecution, the charges against them cannot be proven. The former head of the branch in SHIK, Ilir Kumbaro, led the interrogation operation in Vain, Lezha, of Remzi Hoxha.

Investigations revealed that he was kidnapped in Tirana by Albanian intelligence officials on October 21, 1995 on "Siri Kodra" street, near a warehouse located in the area called "Frigoriferi". His body was never found.

Remzi Hoxha, Zizo Kristopulli and Avdyl Loshaj were kidnapped by SHIK on suspicion of plotting against the president of the time Sali Berisha.

If we look at the history of the kidnapping, torture and disappearance file of Remzi Hoxha since 1995, there are many characters who have passed away, making it difficult to shed light on this state crime of that time.

Bashkim Gazide, former head of SHISH who ordered this operation, passed away in Turkey in 2008.

Budjon Mece, a former employee of SHIK who, according to the prosecution, tortured Remzi Hoxha at the Vain base in Lezha, died in Tirana a few years ago.

Xhevat Hana, a former prosecutor who investigated the kidnapping and insisted on the extradition of Ilir Kumbaro, died suddenly in an Italian hospital in 2012.

John Jones, Ilir Kumbaro's defence lawyer, committed suicide by jumping in front of a train in London at West Hampstead station in 2016.

Meanwhile, the remaining people who are aware of what happened to Remzi Hoxha are former president Sali Berisha and Arben Sefgjini, former deputy director of the SHIK Directorate in Tirana.


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