Albania seizes €3M luxury wine without tax stamps, allegedly linked to kidnappings and AKSH tender manipulation in a major SPAK investigation.
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| Ergys Agasi and in the background many barrels of wine |
A major law enforcement operation in Albania has uncovered dozens of luxury wine bottles without fiscal tax stamps, with an estimated value of nearly €3 million, hidden inside a private residence linked to an alleged criminal network. The wines were discovered in the home of businessman Ergys Agasi, who is currently wanted by authorities as part of an investigation into kidnappings, violent intimidation of businessmen, and manipulation of public tenders involving the National Agency for the Information Society (AKSH).
This case has rapidly become one of the most talked-about investigations in the country, not only because of the extraordinary value of the seized wine, but also due to the serious allegations connecting organized crime, public procurement, and senior institutional figures.
Discovery by Albania’s National Bureau of Investigation (BKH)
According to investigative sources, the luxury wine collection was discovered by agents of the Byroja Kombëtare e Hetimit (BKH) during operational checks linked to an ongoing criminal proceeding. Once the discovery was made, the case prosecutor was immediately notified, who ordered the instant seizure of the collection.
Following the prosecutor’s order, the Tax Investigation Directorate was informed and proceeded to block the bottles, citing the absence of fiscal stamps and strong suspicions of tax evasion. Under Albanian law, the possession of such high-value goods without proper tax documentation constitutes a serious financial offense, especially when linked to suspected criminal activity.
Rare Wines Worth €7,000–€10,000 Per Bottle
Investigators revealed that each bottle was valued between €7,000 and €10,000, placing the entire collection at an estimated €3 million. What makes the seizure even more remarkable is the age of the wines, which reportedly ranged from 70 to 100 years old.
Such wines are typically found only in:
- Private elite collections
- International auction houses
- Highly regulated luxury markets
Their presence in a private residence without any fiscal stamps or traceable purchase records immediately raised red flags among investigators.
Attempted Bottle Swap Foiled by Investigators
During the investigation, authorities also detected a suspected attempt to replace the original bottles with others of lesser value. However, this maneuver failed.
Investigative sources confirmed that the entire wine collection had already been photographed and thoroughly documented by the investigation team at an earlier stage. This prior documentation made it impossible to alter or substitute the bottles without detection, further strengthening the prosecution’s case.
Links to Alleged Kidnappings and Tender Manipulation
The wine seizure is not an isolated incident. It forms part of a broader criminal investigation in which Ergys Agasi and Ermal Beqiri are accused of being involved in a criminal group that allegedly:
- Kidnapped businessmen
- Used violence and intimidation
- Forced victims to withdraw from AKSH public tenders
These actions allegedly allowed certain companies to gain unfair advantage in state procurement processes, causing significant damage to market competition and public trust.
Both Agasi and Beqiri are currently on the run, despite the court having imposed the security measure of “arrest in prison” against them.
AKSH Officials Under House Arrest
In the same criminal proceeding, the Gjykata e Posaçme (Special Court) has upheld the house arrest measure for both the director and deputy director of AKSH.
The decision came after the court reviewed requests for lighter security measures and chose to maintain the existing restrictions. This development further underscores the institutional gravity of the case, as it directly involves senior public officials.
SPAK Continues High-Level Anti-Corruption Probe
The investigation is being led by SPAK (Special Anti-Corruption Structure), Albania’s elite body tasked with combating organized crime and high-level corruption.
SPAK sources indicate that:
- The origin of the wine collection is still under verification
- Authorities are examining whether the wines were purchased using proceeds of criminal activity
- Financial trails are being analyzed to determine money laundering links
If proven, the wine collection could be officially classified as illicit assets, subject to permanent confiscation under Albania’s anti-mafia laws.
Why This Case Matters for Albania
This case resonates strongly within the Albanian context for several reasons:
- It highlights the scale of hidden wealth allegedly linked to organized crime
- It exposes vulnerabilities in public procurement systems
- It reinforces the growing role of SPAK and BKH in tackling elite corruption
- It sends a warning that luxury assets are no longer untouchable
For many Albanians, the image of €3 million worth of century-old wine hidden without tax stamps has become a powerful symbol of the contrast between illicit wealth and everyday economic hardship.
The seizure of luxury wine worth millions of euros in Albania is far more than a story about rare bottles. It is a window into a much deeper investigation involving alleged kidnappings, corruption, tax evasion, and manipulation of state tenders.
As SPAK’s investigation continues, the coming months are expected to reveal whether this extraordinary wine collection represents just the tip of a much larger criminal structure. For Albania, the case marks another crucial test in the ongoing battle against organized crime and high-level corruption.