The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, announced on Wednesday, October 22, the completion of the investigation into a criminal group involved in human trafficking to the United States of America, USA, for considerable monetary values. The criminal case against the five defendants, Luc Melaj, Gëzim Camaj, Emanuel Melaj, Tonin Melaj and Bashkim Çokaj, the latter two police officers, has been sent to court for review.
According to SPAK, the existence of this criminal group, composed mainly of Albanian citizens, has been proven, with the defendant Luc Melaj identified as the leader. This criminal group is accused of organizing the illegal crossing of the Albanian border of at least 25 Albanian citizens, with the final destination being the United States of America. The illegal activity took place from mid-2022 to July 2024. SPAK has concluded that the activity was premeditated, well-organized and with a specific division of roles.
The traffickers initially held meetings in Albania with the people who requested to travel abroad or with their family members, when the travel itinerary and the payments that had to be made were clarified, which ranged from 40 thousand to 45 thousand dollars for each. The applicants to travel to the USA were mainly from Malësia e Madhe, Shkodra, Lezha, Tropoja, people who had family members in the USA.
The traffickers provided forged identification documents, mainly French, which were given to the interested parties after they arrived in Spain. They then traveled to Mexico by air and, after being welcomed and accommodated there, were transported by land to the United States.
Emanuel Melaj is accused of providing assistance in booking tickets, sending them to the appropriate addresses, and transferring money. Meanwhile, defendants Luc Melaj and Gëzim Camaj are accused of illegally transporting Albanian citizens by failing to document their passage during entry and exit into Montenegro.
Through the assistance of defendants Tonin Melaj and Bashkim Çokaj, police officers employed at the Hani i Hoti border crossing points, non-registration in the systems was carried out for citizens who have had problems with residence in European Union countries, as well as for others who are asylum seekers in Canada, the United Kingdom and the USA.
US authorities have also contributed to the investigation. SPAK announced that investigations are continuing to identify other individuals involved. /BIRN/
