TIRANA, May 12 – Alleged ties between crime and politics have once again resurfaced this week following Greek media reports that police in the neighboring country are hunting down the head of a Europe-wide drug smuggling network worth millions of Euros, while they also speculate on possible ties with Albanian politics.
The drug kingpin dubbed as “the Escobar of the Balkans” , according to the Greek press, is a 44 year old Albanian with the initials K.B, who lives in the southern city of Saranda, and a person with influence capable of causing political developments in the country.
Greek media claim that the 44-year old was appointed a director of transport in Saranda in 2014 despite opposition accusations that the person was involved in drug trafficking.
The ring active since at least 2014, transported large quantities of cannabis and cocaine to Greece which were later transported to other European countries including the Netherlands, Britain, Belgium and Norway. A few days ago, Greek police confiscated 678 kilos of cannabis off the coast of Zakynthos, which had been transported from Albania by speedboat and were to be transported to Athens, Greece with the final destination being Oslo, Norway.
The initials of the suspected drug baron correspond to Klemend Balili, a public administration director in Saranda.
Two years ago, Secretary General of the Democratic Party Arben Ristani accused Balili as a person involved in drug trafficking.
After details of the Greek police operation emerged this week, the opposition once more launched accusations against Balili as the boss of an international criminal organization.
According to the opposition, Balili is also known for his strong political ties as one of the main sponsors of the electoral campaign of the Socialist Party in Saranda in 2013.
Balili himself rebuffed the allegations considering them as nothing more than political accusations.
“Everything is political. I have a clean criminal record and I haven’t been to Greece in years. The TIMS system can prove it,” Balili told media on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, documents of Greek police obtained by BIRN reveal that Balili has been declared as a wanted person by Greek authorities on suspicions of being one of the leaders of the international drug smuggling network.
Albanian police have confirmed the fact that there is an ongoing operation in coordination with police in the neighboring country, including American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and several law enforcement agencies elsewhere in Europe.
“Cooperation in connection with this operation started months ago and includes intensive exchange of information, the use of special investigation methods and simultaneous investigations in several European countries. There have been a few arrests in the last 48 hours in Greece and elsewhere in Europe, while investigations continue,” a statement from the State Police read.
However, authorities did not provide information whether the suspected drug lord is Klemend Balili, head of the transport sector in Saranda, citing ongoing investigations.
The Democratic Party considered the police statement as proof that Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri is protecting drug traffickers and called for his resignation.
“The protection offered by Saimir Tahiri and high officials of the State Police to Klemend Balili, suspected as the head of the international drug smuggling ring was proved today. Balili stages a television show from state offices in Saranda while he is wanted by Greek authorities,” the Democratic Party said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the State Police urged political parties to stop “unfounded accusations” referring to accusations by the Democratic Party.
While Albanian authorities claim that there is no arrest warrant for Balili, the latter was sacked as director of transport in Saranda on Thursday to pave the way to investigations.
The news was confirmed by Justice Minister Ylli Manjani, who also commented regarding alleged connections of Balili with the Socialist Movement for Integration.
“SMI does not offer political shelter to anyone be it a chairman, member or sympathizer,” Manjani told the media.
Klemend Balili, who also owns a tourist resort in Saranda, is perceived as a person with strong political connections.
In fact, Greek media write that the Albanian police have justified themselves for not being able to arrest Balili, citing his connections with high level politicians in the country.
After the arrest of mobster Emiljano Shullazi last month, this is another high profile case involving underworld bosses managing to evade the law for so long thanks to their alleged links with politics.
That goes to show that the division line between crime and politics in Albania often is a blurry one.
