The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK) has asked the court to confiscate the EUR 3.5 million that was seized during the “Toyota Yaris” operation in Durres.
SPAK also demanded that property belonging to brothers Alfred and Ervis Vladi in Lalzi Bay be confiscated as well.
On the evening of 24 June 2018, Albanian police seized around EUR 3.4 million hidden inside two Toyota Yaris cars at the port of Durres. At the scene, police arrested the owner of the transport company Edi Lika, his son Klevis Lika and the truck driver Agim Ceka. The next day, they arrested Alban Mollaymer, a businessman who had ordered the cars delivered from Belgium.
Prior to the discovery of the vehicles, Opposition leader Lulzim Basha had warned of a Toyota Yaris on its way to Albania with EUR 1.5 million in it. He accused the head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary group Taulant Balla of being involved in ensuring it reached an Elbasan drugs gang. Balla denied the accusation.
Elvis Vladi is on trial for “non-declaration at the border” and Ceka is on trial for “illegal possession of weapons”. The others Alfred Vladi, Edi Lika, Klevis Cani and Alban Mollaymeri have had charges dropped against them.
Previously, the Serious Crimes court had rejected the case and transferred it to the Court of Tirana because they said it was not the work of a structured criminal group.
In January, the four suspects were released from detention with an obligation to appear before the court during the trial. Alban Mollaymeri, Klevis Cani and Edi, who face charges of money laundering on behalf of a criminal group, and Agim Çekaj, charged with illegal possession of firearms, left the prison after the decision.
Elvis Vladi and Alfred Vladi, who are on the run, won’t be detained during the trial. Prosecutors claim they were the ones to be delivered the money, had the transportation been successful.
Then in August, it was announced that the suspects would only be charged for not declaring the money in the vehicles. It was alleged that there was no evidence of an organised crime or money laundering.
