A food safety scandal has shocked the Berat region, as three individuals have been arrested for illegally reintroducing 10 tons of pesticide-contaminated mandarins into the local market after they were rejected by Croatian authorities.
Who Was Arrested?
The Berat Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the detention of three individuals involved in this case:
- Elton Tafa – The farmer who supplied the contaminated mandarins.
- Arben Dyli – Administrator of a collection and export center.
- Elson Tahiraj – Inspector at the Regional Directorate of Veterinary and Plant Protection.
They face serious charges, including:
- Abuse of duty
- Violation of hazardous substance regulations
- Production and sale of harmful food products
- Food fraud
How Did the Scandal Unfold?
Investigations revealed that a shipment of 21,593 kg of mandarins exported to Croatia contained high levels of the banned pesticide Fosmet, which was prohibited in 2022 due to its toxicity.
- Lab tests showed pesticide residues of 0.075 mg/kg, far exceeding the legal limit of ≤ 0.01 mg/kg.
- Croatian authorities rejected the shipment, citing serious risks to consumer health, and sent it back to Albania.
Instead of being destroyed according to safety protocols, the contaminated fruit was illegally reintroduced into the local market.
- Farmer Elton Tafa falsely claimed he had discarded the rejected shipment in a landfill in Dimal Municipality.
- However, inspections found no evidence of the mandarins being disposed of, raising suspicions that they were secretly resold.
Forgery of Safety Certificates
Adding to the scandal, inspector Elson Tahiraj allegedly provided blank phytosanitary certificates to exporters, allowing them to falsify documentation and bypass food safety regulations.
- These fraudulent practices facilitated the sale of toxic products, posing a serious health risk to consumers.
Ongoing Investigations
The Berat Prosecutor’s Office is continuing its investigations to determine whether additional individuals were involved in this illegal scheme.
- The three arrested individuals will soon appear before a court to face criminal charges.
Public Health Concerns
This case has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about food safety regulations in Albania.
- Authorities are under pressure to tighten inspections and prevent similar incidents from endangering consumer health.
