Albanian Aide Arrested For NY Murder

NewsCore - A top Albanian political aide was arrested for murder, kidnapping and racketeering crimes committed in New York City on behalf of a vicious drug gang, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Almir Rrapo, the senior administrative assistant to Albania's deputy prime minister, was arrested by Albanian National Police at the request of American authorities on July 2, but U.S. prosecutors only unsealed an indictment against him Tuesday.

Another 16 people were charged in connection with the marijuana-dealing ring allegedly operated by Staten Island brothers Bruno and Saimir Krasniqi in New York state, Connecticut and Michigan.

Rrapo, 27, is accused with the Krasniqi brothers of the July 2005 fatal drive-by shooting of Erion Shehu outside a Queens cafe during a turf battle over marijuana sales, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office said.

A month before the killing, prosecutors allege, Rrapo, the Krasniqis and other gang members kidnapped a rival drug dealer at gunpoint, pistol-whipped him and placed the gun's muzzle in his mouth while threatening to kill him if he did not reveal the locations of other members of his ring.

Rrapo, who faces a possible death sentence for Shehu's murder, is also charged with narcotics and robbery conspiracy.

Read more: New York Post