D XXI INVOICES ON ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING Smuggling assets seized Head of the DXXI mission, Çea PAGE 2

An Albanian is killed and 4 Greek police officers are injured

6 other Albanians arrested, 500 kg of hashish seized ATHENS — An Albanian was killed and four police officers were injured during a shootout that took place on Sunday aboard a ferry sailing the Rio–Antirio route, which connects Northern Greece with the Peloponnese. As soon as the ship arrived at the port of Rio, police immediately boarded the vessel to arrest seven people who, according to information, were transporting drugs. An Albanian who tried to evade arrest by throwing a bomb was killed, and four police officers were injured. Police have now arrested 6 people, five Albanians and one Greek. In the two cars they were travelling in, a Kalashnikov, a hand grenade and 500 kg of hashish were found, which they were to take to the city of Patras.

ITALIAN MAFIA ATTACK ON ALBANIA

Minister Koci: The pact on public order is sponsored by the Albanian and Italian mafias In the photo: Minister of Finance Anastas Angjeli, Minister of Public Order Petro Koci, Minister of Defence Luan Hajdaraga

Vlora MPs accuse the commissioner

Koci: “On the day of the Vlora incident, the Italian press wrote about the burning of the police station” TIRANA — Minister of Public Order Petro Koci has accused mafia factions, which have managed to infiltrate political circles, especially in Italy, of sponsoring clandestine trafficking. This was also the most serious accusation made by the Albanian Minister of Public Order in response to reports in the Italian press concerning the involvement of Albanian politics in clandestine trafficking. “Precisely on the day when speedboats were seized and the incident involving Vlora police director Kociu took place, the Italian press reported that the Vlora police station had been burned down, which shows that such an incident had been anticipated,” was the latest statement by Minister of Public Order Petro Koci in response to questions from Vlora MPs. PAGE 3

Customs officer, the ‘iron boss’

Accused of allowing four trucks carrying iron to be smuggled through

They kill on Valentine's Day

SHKODËR — According to police reports, the man who was hanged is named Kolë Millë Lami, from Dukagjin, and lived in the city of Shkodër. The killing took place at a place called Ura e Thive. Police themselves said that he was shot with a firearm from a car without license plates. PAGE 14

18 tons of goods without customs clearance

A supermarket truck is stopped at the Miraka checkpoint

BKT, privatization begins

TIRANA — At its first pre-qualification session, the Tender Evaluation Commission opened yesterday for five foreign banks, including: Banca di Roma, Alpha Credit Bank, Pireaus Bank, Kent Bank and Bankkapital.

Dollar 146.60 1.6825 Euro 158.15 M T W T F