The Durrës Prosecutor’s Office has announced that a laboratory capable of conducting tests on the 210 tons of waste found aboard the ‘Moliva’ ship, which was returned from Thailand and is suspected to be hazardous, has been identified.

The shipment consists of 102 containers, which arrived in Albania on the MOLIVA XA443A vessel at the Port of Durrës on October 28, 2024.

Following some news reports in online media and the high level of public interest, we find it necessary to inform the public about the progress of the investigation regarding the 102 containers seized by the Prosecution Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Durrës on October 28, 2024.

As part of Criminal Case No. 1596, of 2024, registered for the criminal offenses of:

• “Smuggling of Prohibited or Restricted Goods,” provided for in Article 171 of the Penal Code,
• “Transportation of Waste,” provided for in Article 201/b of the Penal Code,
• “Abuse of Office,” provided for in Article 248 of the Penal Code,

intensive investigations are ongoing.

Initially, as part of this proceeding, 102 containers were seized, which were transported to Albania aboard the MOLIVA XA443A vessel, arriving at the Port of Durrës on October 28, 2024.

Considering the concerns over the potential hazards of the substances contained in these containers, the large volume (102 containers), and the need to adhere to best international practices during the sampling, transport, storage, and analysis process, the Durrës Prosecutor’s Office has formally reached out to all ministries overseeing entities, laboratories, and institutions operating in Albania to facilitate this complex process.

Due to the lack of specialized infrastructure and necessary equipment to carry out the full chain of processes in line with international standards, the Prosecutor’s Office requested assistance from the General Directorate of Accreditation to identify private laboratories in Albania with expertise in hazardous substance testing, meeting a set of general and specific criteria, such as:

• Accreditation for measuring heavy metals, PAHs, dioxins, and PCBs according to international norms.
• Capability to establish strong protocols ensuring an unbroken chain of custody to guarantee the integrity of samples (detailed records at every step, from sample collection to analysis).
• Experts with experience in chemical analysis of waste (including metal slags and ash from power plants).
• Validated Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) for secure data management, traceability, and report generation.

A laboratory meeting all these requirements and equipped with the necessary infrastructure has now been identified, and the process of sample collection and analysis will commence shortly.

Additionally, we find it necessary to clarify to the public that, as part of this criminal investigation, the Basel Action Network and Mileukontakt Albania, represented by Jim Puckett, have submitted a request to the Durrës Prosecutor’s Office via email, expressing interest in being questioned as a witness and participating as an expert and observer during the sample collection and testing process.

In compliance with the provisions of procedural criminal law, Mr. Puckett was invited to appear before the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Durrës on December 4, 2024, to give testimony and submit any evidence in his possession. Due to his inability to appear in person, Mr. Puckett provided his information via email.

The Durrës Prosecutor’s Office continues to prioritize and intensify investigative actions related to this criminal case and will continue to inform the public on developments regarding this high-interest case.