He placed a fake bomb at a fuel station and fined the businessman 50,000 euros in crypto, RENEA arrests the 21-year-old

A threat of an explosion for 50,000 euros alarmed a fuel station in Dibër, but everything turned out to be a fabricated scenario.

A 21-year-old is suspected of placing a box fitted with a screen, wires and electronic parts, presenting it as a remote-controlled bomb and threatening to detonate it if the demanded sum was not paid in cryptocurrencies.

The police identified and arrested him within a few hours, while the check carried out by RENEA engineers confirmed that the box contained no explosive material.

The police also secured the security camera footage, which helped identify him, as did his movements through telephone cells, geolocation and the handwriting of the letter.

Police announcement:

“The police operation codenamed ‘The Threat’ is finalised.

He placed a suspicious device and threatened to detonate it, in exchange for 50,000 euros. The police unravel the incident within a few hours, identify and handcuff the suspected perpetrator.

On 02.10.2026, the services of the Dibër Police Commissariat, in cooperation with the Sector for the Investigation of Serious Crimes and the Operational services at the Dibër Police Directorate, finalised the police operation codenamed ‘The Threat.’

As a result of the immediate reaction and intensive investigation, within a few hours it became possible to identify, capture and arrest in flagrante delicto the citizen E. K., 21 years old, suspected of the criminal offence of ‘Coercion through threats or violence for the giving of property.’

After the arrival of the RENEA special engineering forces, the box was opened and checked, from which it resulted that there was no explosive material inside it.

From the investigations carried out, it resulted that this citizen is suspected of having, at around 14:30, in the premises of a fuel station owned by the citizen Z. Sh., placed a suspicious box, on which there were a screen, electronic parts and wires, creating the suspicion that it was a remote-controlled explosive device.

On the box had been placed a threatening letter, through which payment of the sum of 50,000 euros was demanded, in the form of a fine. The payment was demanded to be made in cryptocurrencies, through a cryptocurrency exchange point, at the address specified by the perpetrator.

In the letter, the perpetrator threatened that the box would explode if the payment was not made within the deadline set by him, if the box was moved or if the Police or other persons were notified.

He also claimed that the box contained C4 explosive, was equipped with motion sensors and remote control and that the premises were monitored by cameras.

Under the direction of the Prosecution, work continues to fully document the circumstances of the incident and to identify other persons who may have been involved.

The procedural materials were referred to the Dibër Prosecution, for further actions.”