
The Tirana Prosecution Office has completed investigations and sent six people to trial for document forgery and aiding in illegal border crossing, as part of a scheme that aimed to direct Albanians to the United States of America in exchange for a payment of 35,000 euros.
Six people have been sent to trial after a completed investigation.
The defendants are: Hazir Maci, Lejla Maci, Çerkez Nikoci, Ardjan Pirani, Alfred Maci and Endrit Nezaj .
"Investigations have shown that HM (Hazir Maci), previously investigated for similar activities, organized the passage of several Albanian citizens through the Caribbean and Puerto Rico, using forged documents to reach the US and Canada," the prosecution said.
Prosecutor's Office Announcement:
"The Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Tirana has completed the investigations and sent six people to trial for document forgery and assistance in illegal border crossing, as part of a scheme that aimed to direct Albanians to the United States of America in exchange for a payment of 35,000 euros."
The defendants are: HM, LM, AP, CN, AM and EN. Investigations have shown that HM, previously investigated for similar activities, organized the passage of several Albanian citizens through the Caribbean and Puerto Rico, using forged documents to reach the US and Canada.
"HM is suspected of forging documents and assisting in illegal border crossings, also using two phone numbers from detention to communicate with his associates.
LM, his wife, participated in the travel and organization of the process, including her brother, AP, in managing the travel arrangements.
EN, an employee of a travel agency, helped by providing photos of foreign documents for the production of fake documents.
CN, the vehicle driver, transported forged documents.
AM has provided his British passport as a model for producing other documents for illegal crossings.
The prosecution said that the defendants will be tried for the criminal offenses of "Forgery of ID cards, passports or visas", "Forgery of a document" and "Assistance in illegal border crossing", as well as for "Introducing or keeping prohibited items in the institution for the execution of decisions with imprisonment", in the case of HM.
"The materials have been sent to the court for further legal action."