Morocco extradited Portuguese national Ruben Saraiva on December 30th to Albania in connection with the death of Ardian Nikulaj, a 51-year-old businessman and politician, reported local news outlets.
Thanks to the strong support of Interpol, with which we are working every day to find wanted persons and to cooperate with Moroccan law-enforcement agencies, the extradition of citizen Ruben Ribeiro Saraiva, a person wanted by Albanian justice as a suspect for a serious crime was possible, wrote Albanian Interior Minister in a post on Facebook.
“The realization of this extradition, although we do not have an extradition agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco, has already created the experience but also the confidence to continue our efforts to end impunity towards persons hiding in other countries,” he added.
Saraiva was detained in Rabat back in May and has now been placed in preventive detention in Albania, according to CNN. The accused has already appeared before an Albanian court.
Despite denying any involvement in the crime and claiming to have been on vacation in Albania, Saraiva stands accused of executing Nikulaj alongside three British citizens, allegedly at the behest of Edmond Haxhia, who has ties to the Albanian mafia.
According to Tirana authorities, Saraiva is suspected of fatally shooting Nikulaj at a bar on April 19, 2023. Video surveillance footage reportedly captured the moment of the shooting, showing Saraiva wearing a motorcycle helmet, a surgical mask, and a reflective vest as he fired seven shots at the victim before fleeing on a motorcycle.
Saraiva faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon, and has been ordered to remain in preventive detention in an Albanian jail. The case has drawn significant attention in both Morocco and Albania, shedding light on the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in a high-profile criminal case.
The murder of the businessman is believed to be part of a long-standing vendetta between rival mafia clans. The motives behind the murder remain unclear, according to the Albanian press. At the time of his death, Nikulaj was leading the local branch of his party and was a candidate in the local elections held last May.