Online pyramid schemes, police operation in 5 cities, 6 cryptocurrency accounts blocked
The Police and Prosecutor's Office of Fier have cracked down on online pyramid schemes in Albania, culminating in the arrest of 6 people and the announcement of a wanted list for 2 others. The arrested are Arbër Çela, Emanuel Taullau, Flavio Mukaj, Marius Kodra, Brunilda Todi and Brunilda Ndini. 83 searches of people and homes have been carried out in the cities of Fier, Tirana, Dibër, Berat and Gramsh. The action began in Fier and was finalized in this same city.
Police seized 50 cell phones, 11 computers, hard drives, DVRs, a car and significant amounts of money. Investigators discovered the group’s base, a bar in the Lushnja area owned by Arbër Çela. Also, for the sake of the investigation, Albanian authorities blocked 6 cryptocurrency accounts. The arrested are field agents who promoted and recruited citizens to invest in fraudulent online platforms. They promised citizens profits. These individuals played a key role in recruiting and guiding them through closed groups on “Telegram”. There, they were instructed on how to invest in cryptocurrencies.
Statement by the Director of Fier Police, Skënder Hita:
Hello, we are here before you today, together with the Director of the Cybercrime Investigation Directorate at the Criminal Police Department, First Director Ervina Gjana, and the Prosecutor at the Prosecutor's Office of the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Fier, Jonida Allushi, to announce the results of the police operation codenamed "XUEX", to crack down on online criminal activity of pyramid schemes, an operation that was initiated and finalized in the Fier district.
This operation was carried out on a large scale, with searches of people and homes in several cities and was finalized with the arrest of 6 citizens and the announcement of a wanted list for 2 others. Initially, I will hand over the floor to Director Ervina and then I will announce the results of the finalization of the operation.
On the part of the specialized structures of the State Police, based on the concerns raised by citizens about online fraud with the claim of profitable investments, but in reality they were pyramid schemes deceiving citizens and profiting from their money invested in these pyramid schemes, work immediately began to investigate, provide information and crack down on them, in addition to this, the State Police notified citizens not to carry out any actions in such pyramid schemes.
Following the voluminous, investigative and professional work, the State Police structures finalized the police operation codenamed "XUEX", an operation that was carried out by the Cyber Crime Investigation Directorate in the Criminal Police Department of the General Directorate of the State Police, in close cooperation with the Fier Local Police Directorate, and under the direction of the Fier Judicial District Prosecutor's Office.
This operation is the result of a months-long investigation based on verified information and specialized investigative work, aimed at cracking down on a suspected fraudulent pyramid scheme, which operated online through modern forms of financial fraud and the use of cryptocurrencies. The operation extended to the cities of Fier, Tirana, Dibër, Berat and Gramsh and a total of 83 checks of persons and residences were carried out.
The investigation documented the activity of a network of individuals who acted as masterminds, promoting fake investment platforms through which citizens were promised quick and secure profits. These individuals, positioned at the first levels of the scheme chain, played a key role in recruiting new participants and orienting them through closed groups on applications such as Telegram. There, they were instructed on how to invest in cryptocurrencies such as USDT and TRON with the idea that through these investments they would multiply their profits.
The use of cryptocurrencies in this scheme was not accidental - on the contrary, they were chosen precisely for the difficulty they offer in tracking and for the mistaken perception they have among many citizens as "modern" and safe investment tools.
Thanks to the use of advanced blockchain analysis technologies and special investigative methods, it was possible to identify some of the key actors operating in the field, who served as connecting links between citizens and the organizers of the scheme. The real organizers of this scheme continue to be the subject of investigation, and the State Police, in cooperation with the Fier Judicial District Prosecutor's Office, is following all leads to fully uncover the structure of this network and bring all responsible persons to justice.
This case should serve as a strong call to raise awareness among citizens: do not trust “safe investments” that promise instant profit. Do not let emotions, the desire for quick profit or pressure from well-known people push you to become part of such structures. They are not investment opportunities – they are structured, sophisticated and dangerous scams, where in the end the most vulnerable always lose.
The State Police will continue to work with dedication to combat every form of cyber and economic crime, and at the same time invites citizens to show maximum caution and report any suspicious case through our structures or official communication platforms. Thank you and now the District Director will announce the results of the operation in the Fier district.
As I announced at the beginning of the conference, all investigative and operational structures of the Fier Local Police Directorate were engaged to finalize the operation coded "XUEX", where in implementation of the decision of the Fier Court, 83 checks were carried out on persons, apartments and entities related to a suspected pyramid investment scheme, through online platforms.
During the operation, the following citizens were arrested and put in handcuffs: A. Ç., 38 years old, ET, 21 years old, FM, 23 years old, all three residents of Lushnja, MK 28 years old, resident of Tirana, BT, 38 years old and BN, 38 years old, both residents of Divjaka, suspected of the criminal offenses "Fraudulent pyramid schemes" and "Computer fraud".
Citizens E. Sh., 35 years old and A. Sh. were also declared wanted. 29 years old, both residents of Divjaka, suspected of the criminal offenses "Fraudulent pyramid schemes" and "Computer fraud".
Investigations show that these citizens acted as key agents of this fraudulent scheme.
The scheme operated on the classic pyramid model: citizens who invested were instructed to bring at least 5 other people into the system, to increase their benefits. The more people they brought and the greater the value invested, the more income they were promised. But in reality, these were not real investments, but a well-organized mechanism to obtain funds through fraud, where only the highest levels won, while the majority, especially the bottom part of the pyramid, lost their savings.
During the operation, the following items were found and seized as material evidence:
50 mobile phones,
11 computer units,
1 DVR, 2 hard drives,
1 vehicle,
4.2 million lek, 28 thousand euros, 1750 dollars and 340 francs.
Also, six cryptocurrency accounts were frozen, which are suspected of being used to channel proceeds from criminal activity.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, I would like to assure the citizens of the Fier district that the structures of the Fier Local Police Directorate are maximally committed to preventing and combating illegalities and to guaranteeing the safety of students in schools.
Durrës-Rrogozhinë – Balluku railway line: the EU grant agreement of 60.5 million euros is ratified!
The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, also Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, announced today through social networks that the Albanian government......
Europe's dependence on Korean batteries - 75% of production capacity is carried out by Asian firms
Europe relies heavily on Korean companies to produce electric vehicle batteries. According to data, about 75% of production capacity on the old continent is......
Quotas and market concentrations - Competition Authority and NCC, information mechanism to avoid violations
In the context of increasing transparency and awareness of businesses, the Competition Authority, in cooperation with the National Business Center, has......
Ukraine, arms production with the US and Germany - Kiev seeks support from partners to expand domestic industry
Ukraine has asked Western partners for support in expanding its domestic arms industry. Germany and the United States have offered concrete plans for joint......
Business reacts to suspension of Strategic Dialogue with the US - "Relations with the United States are vital for Kosovo"
The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of the Strategic Dialogue with the United......
Tirana Bypass, second contract signed - Construction of 8.5 km from Kashari to Vaqarr will cost 5.9 billion lekë
The Albanian Road Authority has signed the contract for Lot II of the Tirana bypass, paving the way for the start of works. The agreement was signed with the......
"Voyager of the Seas" for the first time in Saranda/Balluku: 70 cruise ships arrive this season
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, announced today through a post on social networks that the "Voyager of the......
How are gender relations divided in Albania? Women dominate in numbers, men in salaries
The Institute of Statistics has published detailed data on gender segregation in Albania, shedding light on population, births, mortality, health, the labor......
