Arben

Shkodra local Kastrati was arrested in Denmark, where he goes by the name Sokol Krasniqi, in June 2019 during an operation codenamed Goldfinger involving some 30 people accused of trafficking at least 1.65 tonnes of cocaine from the Netherlands to Denmark and Sweden.

The leader of Albania's opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, has been ordered to appear before prosecutors on Monday to answer questions in a case related to payments that his party made to US lobbying firm Muzin Capitol Partners that were not declared in Albania.

Two other members of the Democratic Party, Arben Ristani and Ilir Dervishi, have also been summoned.

Albania's opposition leader Lulzim Basha said on Friday that he wants an in-depth investigation into alleged vote-buying by the ruling Socialists, claiming that the party secured its comfortable victory in the 2017 elections through collaboration with criminals.

Multiple police operations were staged on Sunday across Albania, with officers arresting more than two dozen people suspected of drug smuggling and confiscating guns and narcotics, police and prosecutors announced on Monday in Tirana.

The head of the Serious Crime Prosecution Office, Donika Prela, said the investigation started back in 2016 and was then extended across the country.

Albanian police arrested former Socialist Party MPs Arben Ndoka and Arben Cuko plus several other people in a series of operations against organised crime suspects on Sunday, with Prime Minister Edi Rama stating that no one is above the law.

Thaci announced his irrevocable resignation on Thursday on Facebook, but did not specify what the reasons for his decision were and whether the bad election results played a role.

"Dear friends. I have just submitted an irrevocable resignation from the post as party president," Thaci wrote.

The First Instance Court of Serious Crimes in Tirana found the nine men guilty on Tuesday evening of recruiting some 70 Albanians to fight in the conflict in Syria.

They were convicted of "inciting terrorism" and "recruiting people to carry out terrorist acts".

After nine months on the run from his life jail sentence, Albanian police have confirmed at Arben Frroku is under arrest in Holland.

Arben Frroku is believed to have fled Albania following the Serious Crimes Court's first instance ruling on April 3rd, which found him not guilty of the murder of a policeman.

Genc Gjokutaj, his lawyer, said that the court had been under political pressure and he would appeal to the Supreme Court.

In a surprise decision, Albania's High Court has freed Arben Nroka and Pjerin Ndreu, MPs for the ruling Socialist Party, of charges of beating Genc Strazimiri, an MP from the opposition Democratic Party on July 14, 2014.