site.btaKyustendil District Court Orders Albanian National Wanted on European Arrest Warrant from Italy Remained in Custody

The Kyustendil District Court ordered a remand in custody for a 40-year-old Albanian citizen, declared internationally wanted by a European Arrest Warrant from Italy, to serve a prison sentence of four years and two months and a fine of 19 400 euros, the court said Wednesday.

The man was detained on June 8, at the Gyueshevo border crossing point, upon entering the country, as the driver of an Audi car with Albanian registration, after it was established that there was a European arrest warrant alert for him in the Schengen Information System, the court told BTA.

The man is wanted on a warrant issued by a court in Varese, Italy, for the purpose of serving a sentence for a final conviction for trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances, according to the request of the Kyustendil District Prosecution for the most severe detention measure. 

The order concerns eight offences. For some of the crimes described, a sentence of four years and two months' imprisonment was handed down, which has not been served. The man told the court that he was unaware that he was wanted. 

The ruling, by which the Albanian citizen was remanded in custody, is subject to appeal before the Appellate Court in Sofia. His extradition case is also to be scheduled, the court added.