Three people, including the brother of Socialist MP Eduard Ndreca, were arrested after an anti-drug operation in the Kashnjet area of Lezhë.
The police announced that they had arrested Armel Nikdukaj, 27 years old , and Elvis Shpellzai, 28 years old, residents of Koplik, and Armando Ndrecaj, 32 years old.
" They had adapted an environment (stall), in the forests of the village of Kashnjet, for the cultivation of narcotic cannabis sativa plants, through lamps that were supplied with illegal electricity connections ", the police announcement states. The police announced that Shpellzai and Nikdukaj were arrested red-handed, while Ndrecaj was found to be related to cannabis after investigations.
Police said they seized 2,973 narcotic plants (some of them seedlings ready to be cultivated in the ground), a quantity of cannabis sativa narcotic substance, 50 lamps, ventilation equipment, other items that served this criminal activity and 3 mobile phones.
Asked by BIRN about the brother's arrest, Socialist Party MP Eduard Ndreca said there was no official announcement yet. However, Ndreca said that his brother should be investigated like any other citizen.
"There is still no official announcement from the prosecution, but I want to say that the prosecution and the police must do their work regardless of who the person is, my brother, like all citizens, is equal before the law," he said on the phone.
Ndreca's case is not the first, family members of people involved in politics have been arrested from time to time for involvement in criminal activities.