The Prishtina Basic Court, on Thursday, sentenced five men to a combined 75 years in prison and 108,000 euros in fines, finding them guilty in a major drug trafficking case involving 400 kilograms of cocaine concealed in chicken shipments coming from Brazil.

The 400 kilograms of cocaine were seized on May 17, 2021, in the yard of a private company in Lipjan. 

The convicted individuals—Izet Sheqiri, Kadri Sheqiri, Faton Vrajolli, Kadri Brahimi and Fehmi Bytyçi—were found guilty of organised crime and involvement in an organised criminal group engaged in the trafficking and distribution of narcotics.

Under the court’s ruling, Izet Sheqiri and Faton Vrajolli each received 20-year prison sentences. Sheqiri was also fined 60,000 euros along with an additional 3,000 euro penalty for illegal possession of weapons. Vrajolli was fined 30,000 euros.

Kadri Sheqiri was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 5,000, while Kadri Brahimi and Fehmi Bytyçi were each handed 10-year sentences and fined 5,000 euros each.

The court ordered continued detention for all defendants until the verdicts were finalised, with time already spent in custody or under house arrest.

Exclusive footage of the police operation that led to the drug seizure was aired in June 2021 on the “Kallxo Përnime” TV Programme.

All defendants denied the charges, except Izet Sheqiri, who admitted guilt only for illegal possession of weapons.

The cocaine shipment, believed to have originated from Brazil, was allegedly imported through a scheme involving the company “MC Food” and a supplier agreement with the Brazilian company “SEARA,” with drugs concealed in food packaging.

Two other individuals, Naim Morina and Hyzri Sheqiri, were convicted after pleading guilty to obstructing justice for attempting to interfere with a key cooperating witness in January of 2022. They were planning to move the witness abroad and pressure him to change his testimony. Efforts were also made to portray him as mentally unstable. Authorities alleged that 20,000 euros was paid as part of this scheme.

The indictment in the case was filed on November 14, 2022.