Tourist Faces Albanian Prison After Drug Smugglers Packed His Case
Canadian businessman Kristian Gjoni said the nightmare unfolded when he and his wife Adriana traveled to Albania to visit family, and customs officials found over 50lbs of cannabis in his luggage.
TL;DR
- Kristian Gjoni, a Canadian businessman, was arrested at Tirana International Airport in Albania after customs officers found over 50lbs of cannabis in his suitcase.
- Gjoni claims drug smugglers used a 'luggage swap' tactic, where they switched his luggage tag with one attached to a bag filled with drugs.
- His pregnant wife, Adriana, was also detained, and Gjoni believes the stress of their arrest led to her suffering a miscarriage.
- Despite being released on bail and returning to Canada, Gjoni must regularly check in with Albanian authorities and faces a trial in early 2027, with a potential sentence of over 15 years.
- Canadian authorities reportedly believe Gjoni's account of being a victim of the drug smuggling tactic.