Rrapo postpones extradition hearing

TIRANA, Sep. 22 – Almir Rrapo on Wednesday postponed the hearing for his extradition to the United States. No date was set for the next hearing session.
Rrapo, 27 and a former aide to then Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, was arrested in July for being involved in murder and other crimes in the United States.
He has been accused of the 2005 drive-by shooting death of a man outside a Long Island City cafe, according to the U.S. attorney in Manhattan.
He is also charged for his alleged role in a racketeering enterprise that engaged in murder, kidnapping, narcotics, trafficking, extortion, robbery, arson, obstruction of justice and interstate transportation of stolen goods, said Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for New York’s Southern District.
He is alleged to have taken part in the fatal drive-by shooting of Erion Shehu outside a Long Island City cafe in July 2005 during a turf battle over marijuana sales, the U.S. attorney said.
A total of 16 men have been arrested for their alleged roles in the marijuana-dealing operation, which prosecutors said was run by Staten Island brothers Bruno and Saimir Krasniqi. The Krasniqi brothers are also accused of taking part in Shehu’s shooting.