Italian journalist Luigi Pelazza has returned to Tirana after a joint operation with SPAK, following which eight people were arrested. By tracking the network of call centers spread across almost every neighborhood of the Albanian capital, the journalist estimated that around 25,000 operators and fraudulent consultants are involved, enriching themselves every day by scamming Europeans.This criminal business is estimated to generate around 500 million euros per month, a figure comparable to the revenues of a powerful cocaine trafficking organization. Pelazza recalled the close cooperation with SPAK that led to the first and only successful blow against this activity.However, the operation was part of a well-organized network with three call centers operating on Italian territory, which is why the journalist also filed a complaint with the Naples Prosecutor’s Office, addressing one of Italy’s best-known anti-mafia prosecutors, Nicola Gratteri.After the interruption of this activity, the joint mission continued. At least three informants who had worked in call centers offered to help the investigation. Sofia, a 35-year-old woman, was the first to contact the Italian journalist directly and share her story about a fraudulent call center in the Delijorgji complex.At first, Sofia believed the job was legitimate, but she soon realized that the operation was entirely based on scams. She also told the journalist about the moment when the Italian program Le Iene, together with the Albanian investigative group Piranjat, was following the SPAK operation in the “Green Tower”.While the 35-year-old was on her way to work, she and her colleagues received a message from their supervisor saying that due to technical problems there would be no work that day. It was January 16, the exact day when authorities carried out the intervention in the call center located on the 13th floor of the tower.
Here, the journalist raises suspicions that the story is no longer about four corrupt police officers, but about something much bigger and more widespread. The woman also provided many details about the fraudulent group she worked for, though only briefly.On the 10th of every month, someone would bring the employees’ salaries all in cash, about 2 million euros in total. She also gave precise details about the office location, on the sixth floor of a building in the Delijorgji complex. Journalists from Le Iene and Piranjat went there, but found everything closed.Another informant for Le Iene is Iliri, who has 10 years of experience in the call-center sector. He helped journalists map several call centers in different areas of central Tirana.During the conversation, the journalist was shocked when he was told that Olsi Rama, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, was allegedly involved in the fraudulent scheme. According to the whistleblower Iliri, Olsi Rama financed the opening of call centers and later managed them through so-called “prestanome” (front men).With the map in hand, the journalist contacted two senior officials of the Albanian State Police — Neritan Nallbati and his assistant Virson Stroka. Both promised to intervene quickly, but more than three weeks passed without any response.Realizing that something was wrong, the journalist decided to return to Tirana.
Together with Piranjat, he began searching for the call centers marked on the map he had given to the police officials.During their movements around the city and meetings with collaborators — one of whom was physically attacked by unknown individuals — the journalist realized he was being monitored.
Nevertheless, he continued the investigation.That day, while tracking the call centers, the journalist fully realized how large this criminal operation really is. At one point, police officers called to intervene in a call center operating inside a villa withdrew and refused to cooperate.Frustrated by the complete lack of cooperation, the journalist attempted to meet Prime Minister Edi Rama, waiting for several hours outside his office, but without success.
