The head of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), Helidon Bendo, reported to the National Security Commission for three hours on the Albanian intelligence activity during 2017. The meeting took place with closed doors and attended by only MPs with a security certificate.
Reporting sources claim that Bendo was asked about Russia's risk in Albania, a day after Albania, like most NATO countries, declared "not grata" two Russian diplomats. Confidential sources say for Oculus News that Bendo has denied having clear Russian influences in our country but has admitted that there are such tendencies to influence our country and that Albanian inteligence is vigilant on these issues.Helidon Bendo was asked also if the Albanian inteligence has informations on possible links of politicians or their family members with the 613 kg of cocaine caught in the port of Durres. The head of SHISH has not provided a direct answer to this question, but has stated that the challenge with narcotics is a priority of the Information Service.
Bendo was asked by the opposition whether or not really exist a secret service report that listed 124 senior state police officers as related to drug trafficking. The head of SHISH has neither affirmed nor denied the existence of such a report.
These answers did not leave the MPs satisfied that they expressed that the head of SHISH has given a "dolphin" response, avoiding the provision of direct information, so MPs have repeatedly asked questions to Bendo, although they got the same answers.