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Oil smuggling from the port of Durres, SPAK takes 11 people to court - NAMES

Oil smuggling from the port of Durres, SPAK takes 11 people to court - NAMES

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has completed its investigations and sent 11 defendants for trial, involved in a smuggling scheme involving around 200 tons of oil at the port of Durres. Among the defendants is a police officer from the Durres Police Station.

The investigations were conducted as part of the police operation codenamed "Black Gold", which led to the seizure of the Tunisian-flagged ship "AYA ZANOYBYA" and the quantity of smuggled oil.

The defendants are accused of a number of criminal offenses, including "Smuggling of goods for which excise duty is paid", "Theft", as well as "Active and passive corruption of persons exercising public functions", provided for by the relevant articles of the Criminal Code.

The list of defendants includes:

-Armand Marvataj, police officer of the Durres police station, accused of passive corruption;
- Juxhin Koka and Drilon Malluta, accused of smuggling, active corruption and theft;
-Mohammad Sallit (ship captain), Nedio Mejdani (first officer), Hasan Broud, Sami Shanata, Faez Ismaeil, Wissam Rostom, Samir Bayoumy – Abdoulmohaimen Shanata, foreign citizens, part of the crew of the ship "AYA ZANOYBYA".

"Investigations have revealed that on January 27, 2025, Koka and Malluta offered a 10,000 euro bribe to police officer Armand Marvataj, in order for the latter to allow the extraction of the amount of oil seized from the ship in Porto Romano.

According to SPAK, the plan was implemented in collaboration with the ship's crew, while during the search of Marvataj's apartment, the amount of 10,000 euros was found and seized as material evidence.

From the entirety of the investigative actions, it has resulted and been proven that the citizen, Juxhin Koka, in collaboration with the citizens Mohammad Sallit, acting captain of the ship, Nedio Mejdani, acting first officer of the ship, and Hasan Broud, Sami Shanata, Faez Ismaeil, Wissam Rostom, sailors of the Tunisian-flagged ship, "AYA ZANOYBYA", anchored in Porto Romano, Durrës, on 07.1.2025, planned, organized and carried out the smuggling of 200 tons of oil.

The ship "AYA ZANOYBYA" and the smuggled oil were seized as material evidence on 12.1.2025, as part of the police operation "Black Gold", conducted by the Durrës Local Police Directorate.

Investigations have shown that on 27.1.2025, citizens Juxhin Koka and Drilon Malluta offered the amount of 10,000 euros to police officer Armand Marvataj, scheduled to serve as a guard for the seized ship in Porto Romano, Durrës, in order to allow the extraction of the amount of oil seized from the ship, which was carried out on the evening of 27.1.2025, in collaboration with the ship's crew; Samir Bayoumy, acting as third engineer and technical officer of the ship, sailors, Hasan Broud, Sami Shanata, Faez Ismaeil, Wissam Rostom and Abdoulmohaimen Shanata,” SPAK informed.
The monetary amount of 10,000 euros was found and seized as material evidence during the search of the apartment of police officer Armand Marvataj.

The criminal case has been sent for trial to the Special Court of First Instance against Corruption and Organized Crime.

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