" Never forget ", is the name of the latest sensational police operation which revealed many secrets of the underworld. A few days ago, Artan Tafani, now a repentant justice, was arrested in his 'home town '. Which has led to the protection of his family by the police.
Tafani was arrested on Saturday evening, September 23, 2023, in a hotel near a gas station on the highway in the Lushnja area, information disclosed to the media a few days later.
The 39-year-old was found with a pistol with cartridges in the slot, methadone, a suspected counterfeit Greek card and 200 euros.
Theft in Astir:
First, he was interviewed in Tirana, after he was wanted for the robbery of a currency exchange point in the Astir area of Tirana on June 24, 2023, where he stole 30,000 with a "covid" mask and at gunpoint. euros, to then leave on a bicycle, but would be discovered by the DNA traces he had left at the scene.
What brought about the "Never Forget" operation?
Having these "cards on the table" including the suspicions about the murder in Peqin, a working group has been set up between the Prosecutor's Office of Tirana and that of Elbasan, where the operation is led by the latter headed by prosecutor Kreshnik Ajazi, where it is expected that the file will be transferred to SPAK, according to sources.
It was Ajazi, together with the special group, who managed to extract from Artan Tafan, his darkest secrets, giving him the role of the Penitent of Justice. Among the serious crimes, there are 6 murders, explosions with explosives, violence and theft, and the activity of Laert Haxhiu's gang was discovered, extending to several cities as far as Greece.
According to police information, Tafan's role was that of an executioner, for financial gain, which makes him a contract killer. Even before, he was under observation, but evidence was needed for his arrest and the other members of the gang.
Those arrested:
Artan Tafani, Erisiano Abedini, Lulzim Spahia, Ligor Romaçka, Bujar Abedini, Bledar Berberi, Mariglen Topuzi, Enriko Xhahysa, Klea Gjata, Laert Haxhiu's girlfriend, Idriz Manaj, Fatjon Veliu and Laert Haxhiu, some of whom were arrested earlier early for other events, while Lorenc Lala, Firdeus Berberi, Kristi Bizheku and Endrit Çaushi are in search .
Laert Haxhiu was captured on behalf of Albania in the Greek state in the spring, not yet extradited.
Tafani has told all the events according to him, where he acted either as a merciless killer or for other criminal acts.
The murders committed by this criminal group broken down by Tafani:
Çajup Selimi, June 1, 2022- The businessman was shot dead in the center of Tepelena. Selimi, who owned a wholesale store with wheat products, was shot with a firearm and as a result could not survive his injuries.
Fridman Xhaferi, June 13, 2021 - in the Gjançi reservoir in Korca, the 26-year-old man was found dead in this reservoir with large wounds on his head and with his hands tied.
Alban Semaku, October 17, 2021 - also known as "the Chinese", was found murdered with a gun near the Shkumbin River in Peqin (Elbasan District). He also used the name Elton Mermali. The 38-year-old was a member of Aldo Bare's infamous Lushnja gang and had a rich criminal past. Alban Semaku was executed with 4 bullets from behind, three in the back and one in the head. Semaku was kidnapped in the city of Lushnja, where he had been released from prison only 5 months ago, and then he was executed in Peqin, near the Shkumbin river, where his dead body was found.
Albi Bashalliu, December 27, 2021 - the incident took place in the village of Gjoçaj, where the 35-year-old was killed after being dropped by the perpetrators from the car he was traveling in. In an attempt to leave, their car was not started and the perpetrators left with the victim's vehicle. To hide their tracks, they set fire to their car, which turned out to be stolen in Tirana. After the shooting, Bashaliu was found dead on the street. The crime is suspected to have been motivated by blood feud, as the victim's brother, Leonard Bashaliu, killed 44-year-old Albert Xhahysa on June 8, 2021.
Lulzim Qorri, December 12, 2018 - was killed shortly before 11:00 p.m. in the premises of a bar in Athens, near "Omonia" square. 2 people stopped with a motorcycle in front of the cafe, a place where Albanians gather, in moments when it was full because of a football match that was being played. One of them got off the motorcycle and opened fire from a close range and the 3 single bullets hit the 44-year-old in the head, leaving him dead on the spot. In a few seconds, the 2 aggressors fled without a trace.
Dikens Halili, October 3, 2021 - the 39-year-old from Toçi i Tepelena, owner of a bar in the center of Athens, was killed by a masked and hat-wearing person inside his business. The aggressor approached and shot outside the cafe where Halil was standing and shot him 6 times in the head and abdomen, leaving him dead, as the area was very crowded. After the crime, the perpetrator escaped in a white vehicle, helped by others. Halili had a bar frequented by well-known Albanian singers.
Also, 5 cases of explosions with explosives have been revealed:
In the apartment of Arjan Aliço in Lushnjë, on April 5, 2021.
In Erion Çok 's apartment in Lushnjë, on May 29, 2021.
In the store of the singer Rigels Rajku (known as Noizy) in Durrës, on June 8, 2022.
In the apartment of Bujar Turku in Lushnja two times, on November 1 and December 31, 2022.
Three thefts at gunpoint:
At the currency exchange point in Astir, on June 24, 2023.
Theft of a car in Tirana, on January 27, 2022.
Theft of a car in Durrës, on February 22, 2022.
Three cases of attempts to fulfill the conditions for murder:
In Lushnja to lawyer Adriatik Guri, October 2021.
To Rexhep Gina, on July 6, 2022.
And of Genci Hida in May 2023.
The dynamics and activity of the events he was involved in is high and extended over several years, but what was the past of the repentant justice?
Born in Lushnjë and his first name was Marjusi . His life would take a terrible turn, with the murder of his father in 97' in his eyes. Only 10 years old, when his father was killed at his feet, the seed of revenge was planted in his heart.
After this event, together with his mother, he would leave for the south, to return again in 2010 to Lushnje, where "chance" brought him together with Laert Haxhiu, who had a similar past.
Both would carry out in later years the bloody massacres of taking several lives. According to sources, perhaps cold-blooded, but not entirely sober, having been a user of the narcotic drug heroin. After all this life, as a " soldier of the devil ", Tafani decided to confess every " black " deed, bringing about the extinction of an entire criminal gang.