Journalist Ferdinand Dervishi told the story of Gaz Muça, Tirana’s first gangster, who was shot dead in April 1992.
He was known in Tirana as he invited people who were considered strong to a duel until he triumphed.
“Gaz Muça used to invite to a duel those whom he saw as strong, and it was a wonder that he did not make a name in vain. Even if you beat him once, even if you beat him twice, he kept challenging you to a duel until he beat you. After beating and establishing hegemony. This man was killed with a gun, so a man who punched you was killed with a gun. His murder with a gun in April 1992 is exactly the break that was left behind in that story of the strong with fists giving way to those with guns,” Dervishi said.
Journalist Ferdinand Dervishi also recalled the few crimes during communism and the outbreak of violence during the 90s, after the collapse of the system.
“In the communist system, there were no strongmen, the state was strong, there were neighborhood strongmen, yes, problematic boys who went as far as beatings, others who lined up behind holding a knife, but it didn’t go any further than that.
In Tirana of that time, there is also some work that was strong. A store of tape recorders, which were in high demand at the time, was robbed, an old woman who had gold was killed, robbed and killed. These were one of the most terrible events that could happen in the time of communism. The strong police of Enver’s time became so weak that the police started to carry only the holster of the pistol with them, because it was not a big surprise that the system itself greatly strengthened the strong of the neighborhoods”, said Dervishi.
