Interpol-Wanted Portuguese Hitman Extradited from Morocco to Albania for Businessman’s Murder

It took eight months of negotiations before Morocco gave the green light for the extradition of the hitman Rúben Saraiva to Albania, as the two countries have not signed an extradition agreement, reports the tabloid Correio da Manhã. The combined influence of Interpol and the Albanian authorities made the extradition possible, believes the Albanian site Pamfleti.com. In Albania, the Portuguese is accused of the murder of businessman Ardian Nikulaj on April 19 in a cafe in Shengjin and of illegal possession and production of weapons. The victim was also known in the political sphere. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party and a member of the Shengjin municipal council. His assassination follows a vendetta between rival clans.

Five British citizens as well as the mastermind of the businessman’s assassination have been arrested in England. Their extradition to Albania is underway. Subsequently, the police learned that Rúben Saraiva had fled to Rabat. This is how the Portuguese was extradited under high security from Morocco to Albania on December 31. During his hearing before an Albanian court on Monday, he denied any involvement in the murder. He also claimed he was simply a tourist in Albania at the time of the events. The court does not believe him. It considers that it has sufficient evidence to keep the Portuguese behind bars until the date of his trial.