Six people have been arrested as part of a joint operation between the SPAK and the Milan Anti-Mafia Directorate, cracking down on a criminal group involved in drug trafficking and the issuance of fake medical certificates, for free visits to Italy.
Three of the arrested are citizens Aurel Vula, Ilir Broqaj and Vladimir Peto. Investigations have shown that the criminal group issued false medical certificates to Albanian citizens for urgent life-saving medical treatment in Italy, which allowed them to enter the country and receive medical and pharmaceutical services in violation of the law.
Corrupt doctors are suspected of collaborating with the organized criminal group in exchange for money or sexual services.
Over 500,000 euros were seized from the bank accounts and drugs with narcotics content of the suspects in the amount of 20,000 euros.
Notification of SPAK:
Backed by Eurojust, judicial and law enforcement authorities in Italy and Albania have dismantled a criminal network suspected of committing fraud against the Italian national health system, corruption and trafficking in narcotics-containing drugs. During one day of the operation, nine suspects were arrested. More than 500,000 euros were seized from the suspects' bank accounts and drugs containing narcotics worth 20,000 euros.
The Organized Criminal Group is suspected of operating between the province of Milan, in Italy, and Albania. In collaboration with doctors and nurses working in Italian hospitals. The organized criminal group provided Albanian citizens with a range of expensive and unnecessary medical services that would allow them to enter Italy illegally.
The investigation documented the issuance of fake medical certificates proving the need of Albanian citizens for urgent life-saving medical treatment in Italy, which allowed them to enter the country and receive medical and pharmaceutical services in violation of the law. Corrupt doctors are suspected of collaborating with the organized criminal group in exchange for money or sexual services.
Members of the organized criminal group are also suspected of being involved in the trafficking of narcotics-containing drugs, which they illegally obtained from the Italian national health system and sold in Albania. Some of these narcotic-containing drugs were used to treat patients with COVID-19, which were in high demand during the pandemic.
Nga hetimet u konstatua regjistrimi i parregullt në sistemin shëndetësor kombëtar italian i të paktën 82 shtetasve shqiptarë ndërmjet janarit 2020 dhe qershorit 2021. Këta pacientë kanë marrë të paktën 383 shërbime ambulatore dhe 1,554 vizita të specializuara, qëndrime në spital dhe receta, në kundërshtim me ligjin.
Eurojust mbështeti autoritetet në Itali dhe Shqipëri me ngritjen dhe financimin e një skuadre të përbashkët hetimore (SPH) në mars 2022. U organizuan gjithashtu dy takime koordinuese nga Eurojust për të lehtësuar bashkëpunimin gjyqësor dhe për të ofruar mbështetje për koordiminimin e hetimit.
Gjatë aksionit të përbashkët më 10 qershor, në Itali u arrestuan 6 (gjashtë) të dyshuar dhe u sekuestruan mbi 500 000 euro nga llogaritë bankare dhe barna me përmbajtje narkotike të të dyshuarve në vlerë prej 20 000 euro.
Today, on June 10, 2022, the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime in cooperation with the General Directorate of State Police, in the presence of Italian Police Officers, pursuant to the Decision of the Special Court of First Instance on Corruption and Organized Crime has conducted 11 (eleven) inspections in the premises of apartments, state offices (QSUT) and commercial entities. During the inspections, medical documents in Italian, medical drugs and computer equipment and other evidence relevant to the investigation were found and seized as material evidence.
The following authorities participated in this investigation:
Italy: Milan Anti-Mafia District Directorate
Albania: Albanian Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK)