17.08.2026 21:12
The hiding place of Ylli Zalla, who had long been pursued by security forces in Albania, was determined as a result of days of aerial surveillance with Bayraktar UAVs. The 49-year-old suspect, who faces serious charges, was captured in a forested area in an operation that also involved special forces, and a Kalashnikov rifle and 3 magazines were found on him.
Ylli Zalla, a 49-year-old man who had been a fugitive for a long time in Albania and faced serious charges, was caught in an operation following days of tracking by Bayraktar UAVs. Zalla, who was caught red-handed in a forested area, had a Kalashnikov rifle and 3 magazines seized from him.
Albanian police carried out a remarkable operation to capture Ylli Zalla, whom they had been pursuing for a long time. In the operation named "The End of the Escape," Zalla's hiding place was identified thanks to images from Bayraktar UAVs and field work.
The area, monitored from the air by Tirana police for days, was also cordoned off by special forces and local police teams for the operation. It was determined that Zalla was hiding in a house near his own home in the Zallë region of Fushë-Krujë.
FOLLOWED FOR DAYS WITH BAYRAKTAR UAVS
It was stated that Zalla's movements, whom police had been unable to capture for a long time, were tracked with Bayraktar UAVs. After days of surveillance, once the suspect's location was identified, the button was pressed for the operation.
In the operation involving special forces and local police teams, Zalla was caught in the forested area. A Kalashnikov rifle and 3 magazines belonging to this weapon were found on the suspect.
LINKED TO ASSASSINATION IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED
It was stated that Zalla was wanted on the grounds that he had connections to an assassination in November 2025 in which two people lost their lives.
During searches carried out by police around Zalla's house on February 20, they had seized numerous weapons and ammunition, as well as explosives, narcotics, police uniforms, and various illegal materials.
NEW EVIDENCE HAD EMERGED FROM HIS HOME
Efforts to capture Zalla continued on June 23. During a search of the suspect's house, a loaded pistol, a mobile phone, ammunition, and a frequency detector were found.
The capture of Zalla, who had long evaded security forces, after his hiding place was determined through aerial surveillance conducted with Bayraktar UAVs, was the most striking detail of the operation.