The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime completed the preliminary investigations and has sent for trial the criminal case no. 227/2 of 2023 against a structural criminal group, consisting of Laert Haxhiu, Kristi Bixheku and Artan (Marjus) Tafani.
They are accused of a series of serious crimes ranging from premeditated murder, destruction of property with explosives, armed robbery, providing conditions for murder, as well as blood feud murder.
Laert Haxhiu, leader and organizer of the structured criminal group, is accused of the following criminal offenses:
In collaboration with Lulzim (Arapi) Spahija committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives", to the detriment of citizen Arian Aliço, an event that occurred on 5.4.2021, in Lushnja;
In collaboration with Artan (Marjus) Tafani committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives", to the detriment of citizens, Besnik Çoku and Erion Çoku, an event that occurred on 29.5.2021, at 02:15, 'Gafurr Muço' Neighborhood, building No. 4, Lushnjë;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani, Erisiano Abedini, Ligor Romaçka and Bujar Abedini, he committed the crime of "Premeditated Murder", committed for personal gain, with the victim Çajup Selimi, an event that occurred on 1.6.2021, at 21:15, in Tepelena;
In collaboration with Ligor Romacka, Maringlen Topuzi, Bledar Berberi, Artan Tafani and Lulzim (Arapi) Spahija committed the crime of "Premeditated Murder", with the victim Fridman Xhaferraj, on 2.6.2021, whose body was found lifeless, at the Gjançi reservoir, in Korça, on 13.6.2021;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani, Lulzim Spahija and Mariglen Topuzi and Bledar Berberi, he committed the crime of "Premeditated Murder" committed for interest, with the victim Alban Semaku (Elton Mermali), an event that occurred in the Çezme neighborhood, Peqin, on 17.10.2021;
In collaboration with Enriko Xhahysa, Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahija, he committed the crime of "Murder for blood feud", with the victim Albi (Dijonist) Bashaliu, an event that occurred in Gjoçaj, Peqin, on 27.12.2021;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahija, he committed the crime of "Armed Theft" of Gëzim Çepele's vehicle, on 27.1.2022, on the Tirana-Elbasan highway, near the Palmanova Bar-Restaurant gas station, Tirana;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani, Lulzim Spahija and Dorian Shurdhi (deceased) committed the crime of "Premeditated Murder", attempted, to the detriment of Kujtim Meta, committed for interest, on 20.4.2022, in Lushnje;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani, Lulzim Spahija and Erisiano Abedini, he committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives", to the detriment of Bashkim Rajku and Rigels Rajku (Noizy), an event that occurred on 8.6.2022, in Durrës;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani and Fatjon Veliu, he provided the conditions and material means to carry out the murder of Rexhep Gina, in Lushnja, at around 9:00 PM, on July 6, 2022;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani, Kristi Bixheku and Erisiano Abedini, he committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives" to the detriment of Bujar Turku, an event that occurred on 1.11.2022, in Lushnje;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani, Kristi Bixheku and Erisiano Abedini, he committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives", again to the detriment of Bujar Turku/Resmije Turku, an event that occurred on 31.12.2022, in Lushnja;
In collaboration with Artan Tafani and Firdeus Berberi, he committed the crime of "Armed Theft" of a vehicle owned by Marjus Zejneli, which occurred on 22.2.2023, in Sallmone, Shijak (Durrës);
In collaboration with Artan Tafani and Kristi Bixheku, he committed the crime of "Providing conditions and material means to commit murder" of Genci Hida, in Lushnja, in the period April-May 2023;
The structured criminal group was able to obtain weapons, explosives and ammunition in large quantities and used them in public settings;
Kristi Bixheku is accused of the following criminal offenses:
In collaboration with Laert Haxhiu, Artan Tafani and Erisiano Abedini, he committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives" to the detriment of Bujar Turku, an event that occurred on 1.11.2022, in Lushnja;
On 31.12.2022, in Lushnja, again in collaboration with Laert Haxhiu, Artan Tafani and Erisiano Abedini, he committed the crime of "Destruction of property with explosives", to the detriment of Bujar Turku/Resmije Turku;
In collaboration with Laert Haxhiu and Artan Tafani, he committed the crime of "Providing conditions and material means to commit murder" of Genci Hida, in Lushnja, in the period April-May 2023;
Artan (Marjus) Tafani is accused of the following criminal offenses:
In collaboration with Laert Haxhiu and Fatjon Veliu, he committed the crime of "Providing the conditions and means" for the murder of Rexhep Gina, in Lushnja, on July 6, 2022, at around 9:00 PM;
Based on the investigation documents, it is concluded that the criminal activity of this structured group extended from April 2021 to May 2023, when its leader and organizer, Laert Haxhiu, was arrested in Greece. (Laert Haxhiu was extradited from Greece in July 2024).
The members of the structured criminal group, in addition to the defendants, are:
Lulzim Spahija (Arab)
Ligor Romaçka
Barber Shop
Erisiano Abedini
A request for a trial has previously been filed against them.
Laert Haxhiu, the organizer and leader of this structured criminal group, began committing criminal acts in revenge for the murder of his cousin (uncle's son) Klodian Haxhiu, and after the arrest of his two friends Anterio Kaloshi and Orgest Bilbili.
Led and organized by him, the criminal group undertook concrete criminal acts to kill persons who were considered members of the opposing criminal group, which at that time was led by Aldo Bare. The criminal acts of this structured group did not only aim at the life and health of opponents, but also at the destruction of property, through the use of explosives, or the commission of acts of theft with the use of weapons. In addition to the murders of Çajup Selim and Albi (Dijonist) Bashaliu, all the other crimes mentioned above were organized and committed as a sign of revenge and for the same motives.
Investigations are continuing against other individuals.
