The Special Prosecution Office cracked down on one of the most dangerous criminal groups in the country led by Jetmir Pepaj alias Mir Pepaj, who was declared internationally wanted on charges of cocaine trafficking, criminal group and money laundering.
According to SPAK, the criminal group has operated in Latin America, Belgium and the Netherlands, where 8 episodes of cocaine trafficking have been documented. During the years 2019-2021, according to the Special Prosecution Office, 7.5 tons of cocaine were trafficked, in eight different episodes.
In total, SPAK signed 11 arrest warrants, including for the group's leader, Jetmir Pepaj. Only 3 of the suspects were arrested, while 8 others are wanted.
SPAK seized assets worth 12 million euros that allegedly belong to the leader and suspected members of this group.
One of the seized companies is "Pepa Group", which is owned by Jetmir Pepaj's family members.
This company turns out to have won public contracts worth millions of euros.
Referring to Open Data data, it turns out that this company has won 12 tenders alone with a value of 7.1 billion lek.
Most of the public procedures it has benefited from are from the municipality of Tirana with six of them, three from the municipality of Kukës, two from the municipality of Fushë Arrëz and one from the municipality of Lezhë. Among them we can mention the construction of the 9-year school Pjetër Budi in Tirana worth 3.7 billion lekë. "Pepa Group" has won the tender for the construction of the "Ten" center or the one for the reconstruction of the Martyrs' Cemetery.
"Pepa Group" has also won other tenders related to the reconstruction program, at least 6 procedures or road reconstruction, but has entered the competition together with other companies.
