Rama's mafia connections with 'Narcos': Shocking revelations about Albania and Italy from RAI3

From Vudi Xhymshiti

In a striking display of political loyalty, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly defended Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama amidst mounting allegations of corruption and mafia collusion. At the Fratelli d’Italia (FdI) programmatic conference last April, Meloni urged solidarity with Rama, dismissing accusations against him as propaganda. However, Rai 3’s investigative program “Report” will air an episode that could set Meloni’s confidence ablaze tonight.

The episode, titled “La campagna d’Albania,” features a revelatory interview with Arben Ahmetaj, Albania’s former deputy prime minister and Rama’s right-hand man across three administrations. Ahmetaj, now a fugitive in Switzerland, faces a corruption warrant linked to a major incinerator scandal that rattled half of the Albanian government. In his interview, Ahmetaj claims that mafia groups are deeply embedded in Albania’s economic and political spheres, securing contracts through front companies and laundering money via the construction industry with Rama’s tacit coordination.

According to Ahmetaj, Rama has direct ties with mafia leaders, regularly meeting them in his government office. Ahmetaj asserts that these interactions are mediated by Ergys Agasi, a tobacco sector businessman and son of a prominent former Socialist parliamentarian. In a counter-interview, Rama dismisses Ahmetaj’s allegations, branding him as unreliable and insisting Albanian politics remain untouched by organized crime.

However, “Report” presents damning photographic evidence of a meeting in Rama’s office with Luftar Hysa, identified by Canadian authorities as a key money launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel. Hysa secured a license to open a luxury casino in Vlora two months after this meeting. Rama’s defence—claiming he met Hysa only once—rings hollow against such incriminating evidence.

The episode also highlights the influx of Italian entrepreneurs into Albania, seeking fortunes across the Adriatic. Among them is former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema, who has denied involvement in cryptocurrency ventures despite Report’s findings. D’Alema’s past business partner, Massimo Tortorella, has established Consulcesi Tech in Tirana, a company specialising in cryptocurrency investments.

Report uncovers deeper ties between Italian business interests and Albanian politics, involving high-profile figures such as Pietro Urso, head of the lobbying firm Italian World Service. Urso’s connections span to Artan Gaci, a former influential Albanian politician linked to Rama. Gaci’s luxury resort project in Southern Vlora has been seized amid a corruption probe, revealing murky intersections between business and politics.

As the episode of “Report” airs tonight, it promises to deliver a compelling and controversial narrative that will likely dominate political discourse in the coming days. The detailed accusations and evidence presented by “Report” underscore the urgent need for transparency and accountability in Albanian politics, and the repercussions will undoubtedly be felt far beyond the nation’s borders.

Albania’s rapid development, particularly in Tirana under Rama’s tenure as mayor and now as prime minister, is not without controversy. Report details that 60% of the €3.7 billion in real estate investments in 2023 are untraceable through banking systems, suggesting significant underground financial activity.

Meloni’s advocacy for Rama also intersects with her government’s contentious plan to establish migrant detention centres in Albania, a strategy met with delays and cost overruns. The initial completion date of May 20 has now been pushed to November, with costs ballooning from €39 million to over €65 million for 3,000 placements. Report has exposed the controversial awarding of construction contracts to companies like Ri Group Spa, linked to Salvatore Tafuro, and management contracts to Medihospes, tied to historical corruption scandals.

As these revelations come to light, Albania teeters on the brink of an abyss. The allegations aired by “Report” depict a nation whose governance is deeply intertwined with organised crime, raising profound questions about the rule of law and the future of democracy in Albania. With Prime Minister Edi Rama at the center of these accusations, his continued tenure, supported by certain foreign ambassadors and high-ranking officials from the most powerful Western Governments, as well as Italian and Serbian governments, casts a long shadow over any hope for genuine reform. Documents seen by The Frontliner Magazine (currently under investigation) suggest a troubling complicity among these international actors in maintaining Rama’s grip on power, despite the mounting evidence of his administration’s corruption and mafia connections.

The stakes for Albania could not be higher. If Rama remains in power, will the country descend into financial and judicial chaos, or worse, into a civil war marred by organised crime, assassinations, and rampant lawlessness? The spectre of such a grim future demands urgent and uncompromising scrutiny. How far will Albania go, and can it survive the looming catastrophe if these deeply entrenched issues are not addressed head-on? The international community must reckon with its role in this unfolding drama, and Albanians must brace for the turbulent road ahead as they seek to reclaim their nation from the clutches of corruption and crime.

Political instability in Albania will likely generate significant tensions not only within the nation but also among its allies, particularly Serbia. Serbia, which has banked heavily on Rama’s support regarding its stance on Kosovo, faces uncertainty as these allegations could undermine the credibility and stability of one of its key regional allies. The potential unraveling of Rama’s administration could disrupt Serbia’s strategic plans, especially its contentious ambitions concerning Kosovo. This turmoil could ripple through the Balkans, exacerbating existing conflicts and destabilising the region further.

As the “Report” episode airs tonight, it promises to deliver a compelling and controversial narrative that will likely dominate political discourse in the coming days. The detailed accusations and evidence presented by “Report” underscore the urgent need for transparency and accountability in Albanian politics, and the repercussions will undoubtedly be felt far beyond the nation’s borders. The international community, particularly Albania’s European and regional partners, must confront the implications of these revelations and the role they may have played in enabling the conditions that have led to this precarious state of affairs.

Albania’s future hangs in the balance as it navigates these revelations of corruption and mafia ties. The episode by “Report” stands as a critical examination of the interplay between politics and organised crime, and it challenges both domestic and international actors to address these issues with the seriousness they demand. As Albanians watch their nation’s narrative unfold, the call for reform and justice becomes ever more pressing.