Two recent attacks, assumed to be executions in the criminal milieu, have led to one dead and eight wounded in the last two days.
January 13, Shkodra
On January 13, C4 explosives were placed in the car of businessmen Lulzim Kalla (43), known as one of the “big guys” of the city. Kulla was wounded by the explosion, while also six others, who happened to be in the area, were heavily wounded.
Kulla is known since 1997 as the head of a criminal organization mainly involved in extortion of businesses. Recently the Prosecution of Shkodra started the investigation of the death of local trader from after being tortured. Kulla is assumed to have the perpetrator of this crime, although the murder has officially remained unsolved.
Previously, Kulla was sentenced to a minimum sentence of 6 months imprisonment for cultivating and trafficking large amounts of cannabis in the Dukagjin area.
January 14, Tirana
On January 14, Emiljano Boçi (32) was executed in his car late in the evening. A 27-year-old friend got wounded and is currently treated in the hospital.
Boçi, also known as “Roland” or “Landi” was released from prison two years ago after being sentenced for planned attempt at murder.
Helpless police
In both the cases of Kalla and Boçi, the police has been unable to point out any possible suspects, even though both have a criminal pasts including murder and torture. Both have been arrested and imprisoned before, but were released early by the prosecution, court, or prison before completing their sentences.
Even though recently Prime Minister Edi Rama was forced by Minister of Interior Fatmir Xhafaj to dismiss State Police Director Haki Çako, it appears that the police still has gotten no grip on organized crime in Albania, which ever more openly shows its presence in the country.
In November 2017, Prime Minister Rama, under loud acclaim of the internationals, announced a police operation called “The Force of the Law,” which would specifically focus on organized crime:
The continuation of the attacks on criminal groups continues to be a priority of the police. The most important is the targeting of assets with criminal origin, by removing the possibility of this networks and elements to return and giving a very clear message that who profits from crime won’t enjoy from what he won profited.
It now appears that this once again was an attempt to “reform” a police force which itself since the beginning of his first term in office has become increasingly implicated in organized crime.
