The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
FBI Wanted Suspect Arrested in Albania
Tirana | 12 November 2009 |
Interpol had earlier issued an international arrest warrant for Gjoka, a 56-year-old Tirana native with US residence.
The FBI, in conjunction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had charged Gjoka and 25 other individuals with a long list of crimes including narcotics and firearms trafficking, money laundering, interstate transportation of stolen property, and criminal conspiracy.
Three other suspects, aside from Gjoka, are presently fugitives.
“This is the culmination of a joint operation between the federal agencies that began in late 2003 with targets in Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States,” said in a statement in March the US law enforcement agency, referring to the operation to dismantle the criminal syndicate, code named 'Black Eagle'.
The operation led to the coordinated arrests of 17 of the 26 defendants over a period of five days in various cites throughout the New Jersey – New York area.
“This case vividly illustrates how crime has become global,” said Weysan Dun, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI’s Newark Field Office.
“Although the individuals recently arrested conducted their criminal activity in a variety of cities and towns throughout New Jersey, they all had associations and connections in Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States,” Dun added.
