
“eKathimerini”, one of the largest and most influential newspapers in Greece, has dedicated an article to the trial taking place in Thessaloniki against Albanian businessman Ilir Shtufi. The latter was arrested there more than a month ago on the orders of SPAK and is opposing extradition.
According to the article, the 53-year-old Albanian businessman, who is not mentioned by name, is Ilir Shtufi, claims that he is being targeted by Prime Minister Edi Rama, so he will not be extradited to Albania.
“A 53-year-old Albanian construction and energy businessman, who was arrested in Thessaloniki on June 12 under an international arrest warrant, denies accusations by Albanian prosecutors that he laundered drug trafficking proceeds, calling the case a politically motivated attack by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Albania's Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime says he belonged to a network that laundered millions of euros, dollars and pesos between 2018 and 2023 through meat, fruit and coal trading firms and a construction company that built hotels and offices in Tirana," the article says.
The businessman of the company "Nova Construction", known for his close connection with Shkëlzen Berisha, is accused of the criminal offense "Laundering of proceeds of crime" committed in the form of special collaboration with a structured criminal group, and SPAK has imposed the security measure "Arrest in prison" against him in absentia.
The Ministry of Justice is reported to have made the official translation into Greek of the file sent by SPAK, regarding the criminal facts against Ilir Shtufi, and through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has sent it to the authorities in Thessaloniki.
The businessman refuses to be tried in our country and has hired two well-known lawyers in the neighboring country, through whose defense he is seeking the dismissal of the extradition request, refusing to face Albanian justice.
"The investigation began with two Albanians accused of organizing cocaine shipments from Latin America to Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands; 441 kilograms were seized in Barcelona. The businessman told an appeals court in Thessaloniki that he had come to Greece for a party and was not hiding," continues the article in the Greek newspaper "eKathimerini".