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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 10 sources · 1 days · First seen about 12 hours ago · Last updated about 10 hours ago

Organized crime violence in Sarandë

Overview

A targeted shooting in Sarandë resulted in the death of 44-year-old Artan Myrtaj, known as ‘Tani Ruzhdiut’. Two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire while Myrtaj was at a local establishment, also wounding a 73-year-old bystander. The assassination is linked to an ongoing cycle of organized crime retaliation, following Myrtaj’s previous arrest for aiding a criminal in a July 2025 shooting.

In response, State Police Director General Skender Hita ordered an immediate investigation and a broader scan of the regional criminal landscape. Authorities are deploying drones for surveillance in the Sarandë and Delvinë areas and forming specialized units to investigate serious and organized crime. An investigative team directed by the Prosecutor’s Office is currently collecting evidence to identify the perpetrators, who are believed to have fled toward Gjirokastër.

Entities

Sarandë · Artan Myrtaj · Ernest Lama · Delvinë · Skënder Hita

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Skender Hita ordered the intensification of investigations into both current and past criminal events following the end of the tourist season. faxweb.al · abcnews.al · gijotina.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A 44-year-old man was killed by gunfire in Sarandë. faxweb.al · abcnews.al · gijotina.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A 73-year-old passerby was wounded during the shooting incident. faxweb.al · abcnews.al · gijotina.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Police are using drones to conduct searches in the Sarandë and Delvinë areas. faxweb.al · abcnews.al · gijotina.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The State Police will increase human resources and logistical support for specialized units investigating serious and organized crime. faxweb.al · abcnews.al · gijotina.com

Timeline

about 10 hours ago

[CRIME] 5 sources
Sarandë shooting: Police Director orders crackdown on organized crime
Albanian State Police Director Skender Hita has ordered intensified investigations into organized crime following a fatal shooting in Sarandë that killed a 44-year-old and wounded a bystander.
about 12 hours ago

[CRIME] 6 sources
Sarandë assassination: Artan Myrtaj killed in targeted shooting
Artan Myrtaj, known as ‘Tani Ruzhdiut’, was assassinated by two masked gunmen on a motorcycle in Sarandë, Albania. The attack, which injured a bystander, is linked to a violent criminal retaliation saga.

Sources

24-ore.com · abcnews.al · balkanweb.com · epokaere.com · faxweb.al · gijotina.com · javanews.al · sarandaweb.net · standard.al · telegrafi.com