The 52-year-old Albanian national was sentenced to two separate 25-year prison terms for the killings of three people in northern Albania. Albanian authorities are working with US agencies to arrange his extradition.
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The arrest was carried out through cooperation between Albanian authorities and US federal agencies, including DSS/OCIU, the US Marshals Service (USMS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a lengthy investigation to establish his whereabouts.
Ftoni had been internationally wanted since 2001 in connection with serious crimes committed in 2000 and 2001.
According to the court rulings cited by Albanian authorities, on September 19, 2000, he killed Gjelosh and Ardiana Markaj in Ças, Velipojë, reportedly over blood-feud motives.
On September 28, 2001, the Shkodra District Court sentenced him to 25 years in prison for premeditated murder committed in collaboration with others, as well as illegal possession of a firearm.
A second killing occurred on August 12, 2001, when Ftoni killed Gac Toma, according to the court decision. On November 18, 2008, he received another 25-year prison sentence for that crime.
During the investigation to locate him in the United States, authorities suspected that Ftoni had used forged documents and false identities to enter and remain in the country.
Albania’s State Police said cooperation with US authorities is continuing to complete the extradition procedures. Once extradited, Ftoni is expected to serve the sentences imposed by the Albanian courts, subject to the applicable legal procedures.
His arrest highlights continued international law-enforcement cooperation aimed at locating and apprehending individuals wanted for serious crimes.