The Directorate of Tax Investigation of the Central Region finalizes the operation coded “VAT”

The Directorate of Tax Investigation of the Central Region, Tirana, in cooperation with the Sector against the Economic and Financial Crime in the Local Police Directorate of Tirana and the Prosecution Office of Tirana, upon an investigation lasting several months, have enabled the detention of the citizens Gëzim Çela, Flamur Zoto, Ylber Molla, Xhemal Kushova, and four citizens with the initials XH. Ç, E. A, M. A, E. Z are wanted by the police.

The citizen Xhemal Kushova appears as the administrator and shareholder with 100% shares in the company “XH&XH 2015” with tax ID No. L51727007A. The citizen Gëzim Çela appears as the administrator and shareholder with 100% shares in the company “IMPEKS&ALB” with tax ID No. L31722007T. The citizen Flamur Zoto appears as the administrator and shareholder with 100% shares in the company “TONI-AL” with tax ID No. L51313017R. The citizen Ylber Molla appears as the administrator and shareholder with 100% shares in the company “Mar Ar – 2014” with tax ID No. L41805020L.

The abovementioned companies carried out domestic purchases and imports in high values, meanwhile sales were fictious and in low value, thus avoiding liabilities toward the state and abusing with the VAT crediting. The products bought by these companies were invoiced to other companies whose activity did not correspond with the one of the companies under administration by the above citizens. Upon the conclusion of the investigative and procedural work, the investigation team seized the material evidences such as VAT books, VAT invoices, mandates, etc.

According to the preliminary data, the economic damage incurred by the state budget appears to be at ALL 350,000,000.

These entities in cooperation with each-other and other entities have committed the elements of the following criminal offences “Fraud scheme in relation to the Value Added Tax”, “Income concealment” and “Falsification of seals, stamps or forms” provided for in Articles 180, 181, 144/a and 190/2 of the Criminal Code. The investigation team is still continuing with the investigative procedures regarding other companies which have performed sales and purchases with these companies.