Convicted of 5 murders in three countries, Mane Driza heading for extradition to Albania

Mane Driza, 48, is expected to be extradited to Albania to serve the remainder of the sentences handed down against him in Albania and the United Kingdom, after a series of murders committed in several countries.

Driza, also known by the nicknames “Tony Montana” and “Scarface”, began his series of crimes in Albania, before leaving for the United Kingdom and then Italy.

According to the data made public, at the age of 18 Driza was involved in two murders in Albania. Together with his father, he shot dead Lavdosh Kanani, while during his escape from the scene he also killed the victim’s father, 71-year-old Elmaz Kanani.

After the incident, Driza left Albania and travelled to the United Kingdom, where he is suspected of having used the identity “Sokol Drenova”.

In 1999, in Britain, he killed Stefan Mone after a conflict linked to a gold ring found in a flat. According to the case data, the victim was attacked repeatedly and suffered more than 120 wounds.

After that incident, Driza left for Italy. About six months later, he shot dead Artan Maskaj and Albert Blushaj. In the same incident he also tried to kill Lefter Maskaj, but the weapon did not work and he was able to escape.

Italian police arrested Driza a day after the incident, putting an end to his flight across several countries.

In December 2001, an Albanian court sentenced him in absentia to 25 years in prison. In June 2002, an Italian court sentenced him to 30 years in prison on charges linked to murder and attempted murder. While in 2019, a court in the United Kingdom sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

His sentence in Italy was expected to end in 2026. However, in July 2023, the authorities of the United Kingdom and Albania reached an agreement regarding his transfer.

Driza is expected to be sent to Albania, where he will serve the remainder of the sentences handed down by Albanian and British justice.