The Special Court Against Organized Crime (SCOC) has announced the verdict for 22 defendants accused of cultivating, producing and processing narcotics, as well as participating in a structured criminal group in Shkodra.
The decision was rendered on November 26, 2025, after a year-long legal process that involved the cultivation of narcotics for two main episodes in Malësia e Madhe.
The court found 20 of the defendants guilty and acquitted only 2 of them.
The group of 22 people was arrested in the event of June 17, 2022, where during a police operation, plots planted with narcotic plants were found in the Shkodra suburbs area.
In the village of Vallas in Oblikë, police discovered plots with 32,000 cannabis roots and seized 246 kg of dried narcotics.
The investigation identified Arian Popa as the organizer of the activity, while the group included Arben Uruçi, Ardjan Tahiri, Samet Dahati, Besar Lejthiza, Izmir Dahati, Ermis Sela and Afrim Dahati. Two citizens, Liljana Çopani and Vajdije Allamani, were accused of processing cannabis.
On October 12, 2022, in the village of Bleran-Bardhaj, the police searched two apartments of brothers Pjetër and Roland Gjoni. An improvised greenhouse with plastic and 86.05 kg of cannabis, part of which was in the process of drying, was found there. The organizer of this activity was identified as Pjetër Gjoni.
In total, the two episodes led to the seizure of 332 kg of cannabis and the destruction of 32 thousand roots of narcotic plants.
SPAK’s investigation revealed that the group had created a well-organized system for the cultivation, transportation and processing of drugs, including improvised housing facilities and plots planted with thousands of narcotic plant roots.
According to the Prosecution, their activity was coordinated, with an internal hierarchy and division of functions that ensured the continuity of cannabis cultivation and processing in both episodes.
20 defendants were found guilty and received sentences ranging from 8 years in prison. 10 others were placed on probation for 3 years, while two defendants, Roland Gjoni and Besar Lajthiza, were found not guilty and their arrest warrants were lifted.
Xhesika Tollia është gazetare në “Rrjetin e Raportimit të Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri” (RRKOKSH), ku fokusohet në investigimin dhe raportimin e çështjeve të ndjeshme që lidhen me korrupsionin dhe krimin e organizuar. Ajo ka përfunduar studimet Master në Shkenca Politike në Universitetin e Tiranës, duke i dhënë një bazë të fortë akademike njohurive të saj mbi institucionet, politikën dhe proceset ligjore në Shqipëri.
Gjatë karrierës së saj, Xhesika ka zhvilluar eksperiencë të rëndësishme pranë RTSH-së, ku është përfshirë në përgatitjen dhe realizimin e projekteve mediatike, duke ndihmuar në prodhimin e përmbajtjeve të thelluara dhe informuese për publikun. Ajo është e njohur për qasjen e saj të kujdesshme dhe analitike ndaj lajmeve, duke kombinuar investigimin me raportimin objektiv dhe të detajuar.
