The arrest of Robert Duka in Tirana has brought renewed attention to two armed robberies at bank branches in the capital, but also to his alleged criminal past beyond the border. Greek media report that the 50-year-old, also known as Albert Duka, had previously been accused of links to a structured group suspected of 28 bank robberies in Greece.
What is being reported about his past in Greece
According to Greek outlet Protothema, Robert Duka had previously been accused of involvement in a structured criminal group suspected of carrying out 28 bank robberies in Greece.
The Greek reporting places his arrest in Tirana in a broader context, raising questions about the true scope of the 50-year-old’s suspected activity and possible cross-border links that authorities have not yet publicly clarified in detail.
The two robberies in Tirana and the suspected scheme
According to Tirana Police, Duka was arrested as part of the operation codenamed “Bank Hunter,” as he is suspected of being the perpetrator of two armed robberies that took place on June 2 and November 2, 2026, in the Komuna e Parisit area.
About 75,000 euros is suspected to have been taken in the two incidents. According to the official version, in the November 2 robbery the perpetrator arrived on an electric scooter, masked and dressed in black, entered the branch, closed the door, and threatened the security employee and the cashier with a weapon.
In that case, about 60,000 euros in various currencies is suspected to have been taken. The other robbery, which took place five months earlier in the same area, is suspected to have yielded about 15,000 euros.
The arrest in the capital and what was seized
The 50-year-old was arrested near Rruga e Kosovarëve in Tirana. During searches, police said they seized 8,200 euros, two mobile phones, and clothing suspected of having been used during the robberies.
According to reports, Duka lived in Vlora, but had also rented an apartment in Tirana, which is suspected of having been used as a hideout. It has also been mentioned that his wife works at another banking institution in Albania, a detail that has been published without any accusation against her.
Authorities’ claims and an investigation that remains open
According to Albanian authorities, the arrested man was identified through special investigative methods, technological systems, and analysis of clothing, despite suspected efforts to hide his face.
Police also claim that he had been kept under surveillance for several days amid suspicions that he might leave again for Greece. So far, most of the public picture is based on the police version and media reports, while the investigation continues both into the two robberies in Tirana and the verification of possible links to criminal activity in Greece.
The case has once again opened discussion about security at bank branches and the capacity of institutions to prevent such incidents, not only to solve them after they happen.
For the moment, claims about Robert Duka’s involvement in the episodes in Albania and Greece remain part of the investigation and the reporting so far.