The Tirana Police apprehended Edevaldo Haxhiu last night during a vehicle inspection, revealing the driver's possession of a weapon and several doses of cocaine. Sources report that Haxhiu is the chauffeur of Agron Duka, the head of the Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority (PAA) and a Member of Parliament in the Albanian Assembly.
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| Edevaldo Haxhiu and Faruk Ozer (montage) |
Background:
Edevaldo Haxhiu's name is not unfamiliar to the Albanian police, as he had previously aided the hiding of the Turkish cryptocurrency mogul, Faruk Ozer, in Albania. Despite police insistence, Haxhiu refused to cooperate with Albanian authorities at the time to disclose Ozer's whereabouts. Faruk Ozer was subsequently arrested and is currently facing justice in Turkey.
Faruk Ozer's Legal Troubles:
Faruk Ozer was arrested in Albania in August 2022 and later extradited to Turkey. He faced multiple charges, including fraud, leading a criminal organization, and money laundering. In 2023, Ozer was sentenced to an astonishing 11,196 years in prison by a court in Istanbul. The court also found his siblings, Serap Özer and Güven Özer, guilty of serious fraud, imposing a hefty fine of 5 million dollars on each of them.
Alleged Escape and Lifestyle:
During his arrest in Albania, the State Intelligence Service (SHISH) was involved, revealing that Ozer divided his time between Elbasan and luxurious residences in Palasë. Faruk Ozer is suspected of fleeing Turkey with a staggering 2 billion dollars in cash, allegedly obtained by deceiving tens of thousands of Turkish investors who had entrusted their money to the now-bankrupt Turkish virtual currency "Thodex."
Conclusion:
The arrest of Edevaldo Haxhiu sheds light on the intricate connections between Albanian political figures and the world of cryptocurrency. The ongoing investigation will likely uncover more details about the extent of these ties and their potential implications. As the legal proceedings against Faruk Ozer continue, the case serves as a stark reminder of the risks and complexities associated with the world of digital currencies and their intersection with political and legal systems.