Two Albanian men arrested days apart in UK and Colombia over alleged firearms offences

Two Albanian men have been arrested just days apart in Colombia and the UK in connection with alleged firearms offences.

Alban Gjidiaj, 28, was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency extradition unit on an international arrest warrant and brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

He is accused on the warrant of conspiring with others to knowingly attempt to evade the prohibition to export goods namely firearms and ammunition at Durres seaport, Albania, on April 10 2023.

Gjidiaj, who is opposing extradition, was remanded in custody until next month when it is expected he will be given conditional bail provided his passport is surrendered to police and a security of £5,000 is paid to the court.

He would be bailed to an address in Barnet if released.

On Monday it was reported that Almir Gjidiaj, 33, (above middle) who has also been declared as internationally wanted by Albania, had been arrested by Colombian police in the city of Cartagena.

It has been reported in the Albanian media that the two are brothers.

The 33-year-old, who was born in Tropoja, Albania, is accused by the country's Special Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime as a being a member of a criminal organisation involved in arms trafficking.

Albanian investigators claim he had a key role in directing the logistics and transportation for the sale of medium and long-range firearms on the black market.

Proceedings for his extradition to Albania are also underway in Colombia.

It was reported in the Albania media that in August last year three men Adulla Hoxhaj, Bojken Turtulli and Rifat Avdiaj were arrested in the capital Tirana and a quantity of weapons were seized, which were hidden in furniture to be sent in vans to England, in an operation linked to the same investigation.

The weapons included 25 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, lasers that are mounted on special weapons and used for long-distance shooting, and optical equipment, it was reported.

Albanian crime networks have forged close ties with Colombian cocaine cartels to obtain lower prices for the class A drug which is imported into Europe.

They have also forged links with Italian Mafia groups to enable movements across the Continent and into the UK.