A UK court has approved the extradition of Albanian national Alban Gjidiaj to Albania after he lost his legal attempt to block the process. The decision marks a significant step in an ongoing investigation led by Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) into an alleged international weapons trafficking network targeting the United Kingdom.
The ruling comes following judicial cooperation between the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the United Kingdom and the Directorate of International Relations within Albania’s Ministry of Justice.
Court Decision Moves Case Toward Final Extradition Order
According to judicial procedures in the United Kingdom, the court’s approval is not the final step in the extradition process. The decision has now been forwarded to the UK Home Secretary, who must sign the final order authorizing Gjidiaj’s extradition to Albania.
Once approved, the order will allow Albanian authorities to take custody of the suspect and continue legal proceedings against him in Tirana.
The case highlights the growing cooperation between Albanian and British authorities in tackling organized crime networks operating across borders.
Released on Bail but Under Strict Monitoring
Despite the court approving his extradition, Gjidiaj will remain temporarily free under strict bail conditions until the final decision is signed.
According to court documents, he has been released after paying a financial guarantee of £5,000. However, his freedom comes with several restrictions designed to ensure he remains under constant supervision.
The conditions include:
- Electronic monitoring through an ankle bracelet
- Weekly reporting every Friday at the Colindale police station in London
- Compliance with bail conditions until the extradition order is finalized
These measures are intended to prevent any attempt to evade the extradition process.
Arrested in London After International Investigation
Alban Gjidiaj was located and arrested in London approximately one year ago following a coordinated operation between Interpol Tirana and British law enforcement authorities.
He had been declared internationally wanted after a SPAK arrest warrant was issued as part of a wider investigation into a suspected criminal group involved in arms trafficking.
Authorities believe the network was planning to transport firearms and ammunition from Albania to the United Kingdom.
Allegations of Organized Weapons Smuggling
According to investigators, Gjidiaj is suspected of being part of a structured criminal organization that planned to send eight firearms and a significant quantity of ammunition from the Port of Durrës to criminal groups operating in Britain.
The alleged operation reflects a growing concern among European law enforcement agencies about transnational criminal networks that use the Balkans as a logistical route for illegal weapons trafficking.
Such cases have become a priority for Albanian authorities in recent years as the country strengthens cooperation with international partners in the fight against organized crime.
Strengthening Albania–UK Cooperation Against Crime
The extradition process demonstrates the increasing level of cooperation between Albania and the United Kingdom in judicial and law-enforcement matters.
Through coordinated work between SPAK, Interpol, and British institutions such as the Crown Prosecution Service, authorities have been able to track suspects across borders and pursue legal accountability.
If the final extradition order is signed by the UK Home Secretary, Alban Gjidiaj will be transferred to Albania where prosecutors are expected to continue the investigation and potentially bring the case to trial.
For Albanian authorities, the case represents another test of the country’s efforts to dismantle organized crime networks operating both domestically and internationally.