The Special Court has eased the security measure for Merxhan Çeliku, the 32-year-old accused of being a member of a criminal group that, according to the case file, defrauded citizens through call centers and appropriated large sums of money. The decision removes him from pretrial detention and places him under house arrest, in a case that from the outset has been presented as one of the biggest crackdowns on international fraudulent investment schemes.
GJKKO decision: from cell to house arrest
According to the decision of the Special Court, Merxhan Çeliku’s request to replace the measure of “prison arrest” with “house arrest” was accepted. The decision was made on November 9, 2026 by judge Erjon Çela.
According to the court’s official version, Çeliku must not leave his home and his immediate release from pretrial detention has been ordered, as long as he is not being held there under any other security measure or sentencing decision. The previous measure had been imposed in November 2022.
The charges are linked to a broad fraud scheme
Çeliku is accused of being part of a criminal group that, according to authorities, extorted about €50 million through call center fraud. The investigation is linked to a network that presented itself to citizens as an intermediary for cryptocurrency investments, promising high returns.
According to the case file, the money invested by citizens, mainly from European Union countries, was not used for real investments but was appropriated by the group. The victims, according to the investigation, number in the thousands across different countries.
Arrest after fleeing and extradition to Albania
The 32-year-old was arrested in 2024, after two years on the run. According to authorities, the arrest was made possible through the exchange of information between Albanian police, Interpol, and authorities in Abu Dhabi.
After his detention, he was extradited to Albania to face the charges related to this alleged international fraud scheme.
The international operation and the scale of the network
The scheme was uncovered in November 2022 during an international operation led by Eurojust, Europol and Spain’s Guardia Civil, in cooperation with SPAK.
According to authorities, 15 call centers were identified: six in Albania and the others in Georgia, Ukraine and North Macedonia. Investigators claim the economic damage exceeded €50 million, while the activity extended beyond Albania’s borders.
The change of measure for one of the accused in a case of this scale is expected to raise questions about the court’s reasoning, especially when it comes to a case that authorities have presented as a model of international cooperation against economic crime.
For now, the GJKKO decision leaves Çeliku under house arrest, while proceedings against him continue.