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In Albania, the Special Prosecution announced on Friday that 390,000 square meters of land in the Pulaj-Plazhë area of Velipoja have been placed under seizure. Investigations have revealed that these extensive land holdings are linked to Pëllumb Gjoka, a controversial entrepreneur who was arrested in July during an operation that also led to the apprehension of judicial officials, police officers, and prominent figures in the world of crime, local media reports.
The Prosecution states that these land holdings consist of three distinct parcels of forest land. Two were registered in the names of various commercial entities, while the third was registered under a private individual's name. However, investigations have raised "reasonable suspicions based on evidence that they were acquired through the falsification of documents carried out by the citizen Pëllumb Gjoka in collaboration with other individuals."
Gjoka's name has been frequently mentioned in the political sphere, with the opposition accusing him of involvement in vote-buying in favor of the Socialist Party. Previously engaged in the gaming industry, his company, Imperial Group, was granted the status of a strategic investor for a 52 million-euro tourist resort construction project in Velipoja in July 2021. However, it appears this investment has yet to commence.
Gjoka was apprehended based on information received from European agencies, which had successfully deciphered communications through encrypted phones mainly used by criminal figures, including several Albanians. The group of individuals arrested in July is suspected of numerous serious criminal offenses, including premeditated murder, passive corruption of judges, prosecutors, and other justice officials, active corruption of judges, prosecutors, and justice officials, unlawful deprivation of liberty, abuse of duty, expert fabrication, document forgery, drug trafficking, unauthorized possession and production of firearms, participation in an organized criminal group, and money laundering.