Police officer killed at cannabis roadblock

TIRANA, Sept.  28 – A Lezha police officer, Saimir Hoxha, has been killed while checking in on a suspected marijuana route in the Vain region.

He was part of a police roadblock that signaled a suspect vehicle stop. Instead a man inside the vehicle shot at the police, wounding Deputy Commissar Hoxha. He died on the way to the hospital.   

Police say the suspected perpetrator is Aldi Rama, 21, a man with previous narcotics and weapons convictions. 

Numerous police units, including special forces as well as a helicopter, have been deployed to search the area for the gunman.