FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Saranda was rocked again last night, when a TNT explosion woke up residents and tourists in alarm. This was not an isolated criminal incident, but a series of crimes that followed one another during the month of July, in the middle of the tourist season in the coastal city.
The target of the attack was a vehicle owned by citizen Klaus Jaçaj, 31 years old, which was "blown up" with explosives. Jaçaj had been wanted by the Police only 4 days earlier, as he is suspected of being involved in the clash between two groups on July 17 in neighborhood number 4 of Saranda, where two young men from Kamza, Gëzim Hajdaraj, 33 years old, and Ernest Lama, 24 years old, were injured by gunfire.
Klaus Jaçaj is accused of supporting the perpetrators of the crime, as he is suspected of having helped the two brothers Ramadan Zoto, also known as Ramadan Canaj, 43 years old, and Erjon Canaj, 36 years old, who shot the two young men after a dispute over property on the coast.
The incident occurred in broad daylight and in front of hundreds of vacationers, as the two young men were rushed to the Trauma Hospital. A bag was also found at the scene, containing a gun, which is suspected to have belonged to one of the injured. The perpetrators are still being sought.
Meanwhile, the TNT explosion occurred in neighborhood number 3 of Saranda, at around 23:50 and based on the above incident, it is suspected to be motivated by revenge. The vehicle was completely engulfed in flames and completely burned. Klaus Jaçaj's apartment was also damaged.
"On 21.07.2025, at around 23:50, in neighborhood no. 3, Saranda, it is suspected that a quantity of explosive material placed in a vehicle exploded, causing only material damage. The vehicle is owned by citizen KJ, 31 years old, a person wanted for the criminal offense of "Supporting the perpetrator of a crime", in connection with the event of 17.07.2025, where two citizens were injured by gunfire", the Police announced.
But, these are not the only criminal events that have shaken Saranda in about two weeks, as in the middle of the tourist season, armed and wanted persons seem to be moving freely, while there have been no shortage of other injuries or bloody fights.
More specifically, on July 8, as part of Operation “Impact,” the Kosovar citizen Sh. M., 31 years old, resident of Gjilan, was arrested in Ksamil. During the search of the “Range Rover” vehicle driven by this citizen, the blue uniforms found hidden in his handbag, 1 firearm, a “Beretta” pistol, with a magazine of cartridges.
On July 11, the Police randomly stopped a luxury vehicle, the Porsche Panamera, on the "Butrinti" street, inside which were three young men from Kamza, one of whom was wanted. More specifically, citizens Endrit Doku (27 years old), Ervis Cukali (27 years old) and Imer Gega (21 years old). Endrit Doku was armed with a pistol, where he jumped into the sea to escape arrest along with the bag containing the weapon, but he did not succeed, after being caught by the border police in a speedboat.
Meanwhile, Ervis Cukali, a person with high social risk, was wanted for the criminal offenses of "Providing conditions and material means to commit murder" and "Unauthorized possession and production of weapons of war", while he was also arrested for the criminal offenses of "Failure to report a crime" and "Actions that hinder the discovery of the truth". He was arrested on September 28, 2023, together with Albi Mecin and Arafat Manërkoli, after they were caught with a quantity of 21 kg of explosives and suspected of being involved in an assassination in Fier.
On July 19, in Ksamil, Albert Pashaj, the owner of the “Euro Hotel” in Ksamil, was raped with hard objects (hunj) by Agim Taraj (owner of the “Sunset Beach Bar”), Silvjan Sulku and Aldo Zeqiraj. The incident happened again in front of hundreds of vacationers, as images of blood flowing from his face made the rounds on the internet.
On July 20, gunshots were recorded in Saranda in neighborhood number 4, on “Mitat Hoxha” street. The incident occurred again in front of hundreds of vacationers, putting their lives at risk. During the conflict, former police officer Adil Veli, 56, was injured, who, according to authorities, was hit with the barrel of a pistol.
The police in their first press release were very keen to state that the firearm had been fired involuntarily into the air during the conflict. It is not known how the police came to this conclusion, as they did not give any initials of the perpetrator(s), but said they were working to identify them. It gave the impression of an attempt to protect the perpetrator.
The initials of the suspected perpetrator, citizen EG, 44 years old, resident of Saranda, were published in the media only a day later. He is still being sought, as the incident becomes more serious, given the fact that firearms were pulled out and fired in the middle just over a banal quarrel that allegedly started over the words "Why are you looking at me like that".
So, Saranda, at the height of the tourist season, has become an unlivable city not only for tourists, but also for residents, as it is dominated by criminal incidents. They have raised concerns in the media, while hurling accusations at the forces of Order. Meanwhile, vacationers are packing their bags to leave.
"I am a tourist in the city of Saranda. We have been in Saranda for about a week on vacation and now we are packing our bags to leave because Saranda has become like Kabul. In 4 days, 2 gunshots with injuries, and a TNT explosion. What is happening, this police chief must be replaced. He only thinks about fines for businesses and nothing else. The police do not exist at all in the city, they drive past with their cars covered in tape and do not stop them because they have received such orders from him," the tourist denounces to the media.
Gëzim Bashllari has been in charge of the Saranda Police Station since last December, and he seems to have failed to maintain order and security. His focus has been solely on imposing fines on businesses that have no connection to the authorities, while violence continues to erupt in the city and there seems to be no quick response from the police.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting the fact that Saranda is the city from which the Director General of the State Police, Ilir Proda, comes. Given this fact, suspicions may arise that crime in this city has increased due to the connection that high-risk individuals may have with the leadership of the blue uniform organization.
After Saranda is shaken by gunfire and TNT explosions, Ilir Proda ordered after midnight last night to send the RENEA special forces to the coastal city, where it seems more like a "show" trying to give the impression that it is acting after crimes, rather than for action with concrete goals, as so far no arrests have been reported.
So, during this month Saranda has become a scene of "gunfire", explosions of grenades, clashes, punches, bloodshed and arrests, where the "strong" seem to make the law. If the situation continues like this, Saranda risks losing its reputation as a tourist destination and turning into an unsafe city./ Boldnews
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