TIRANA, Feb. 26 – The Serious Crimes Court decided on Monday that Klement Balili, one of the most mentioned names in Albania considered to be the head of one of the most powerful drug trafficking rings, is going to benefit a shortened trial.
The court accepted Balili’s request, judging it was made within the right time limits.
The shortened trial foresees that the case against him be followed based on the acts currently possessed by the prosecution against him, leading to Balili receiving a one-third reduction from his final sentence.
Balili, former head of Transport in Saranda, is accused of “Trafficking narcotic drugs” , carried out in cooperation in the form of a structured criminal group, “Participation in a structured criminal group” , “Refusal to declare, non-declaration, concealment or declaration of false assets,” as well as “money laundering.”
According to the prosecution, which is also in possession of material from the Greek authorities, Balili is suspected of having played the role of the organizer in trafficking a few hundred kg of marijuana from Albania to Greece, where two Albanian citizens were arrested.
Meanwhile, he has also been indicted by the Inspectorate for Declaration and Verification of Assets for asset concealment.
On January 15 of this year, after more than two years hiding from justice, Balili gave himself up, insisting he was innocent.
