Investigative journalist Artan Hoxha in Shqip by Rudina Xhunga told the life of gambling boss Ervis Martinaj and how he entered the business world.
“The two sisters and Ervis Martinaj himself have completed economics and business studies. Martinaj was also educated in law, he was an educated person. When he entered the business, his father was a bank manager.
The business was set up by his mother and father, they dealt with gambling, foreign exchange agencies, etc. Unlike the others, Martinaj did not come from the street, did not experience hunger or discrimination.
He comes from another field, that’s why he did what he did. Gambling business, seductive business and vice everywhere in the world, which affects even politicians, judges, police, etc., also circulates constantly and you pay at every moment.
He entered this business and because of the political connections he had, at that time he was the right-wing force in power. The direct acquaintance he had with the Berisha family gave him more access. But Martinaj got the greatest power after 2013, when SP came to power. Because the left could not hit him even though he tried.
Why did Ervis Martinaj become aggressive, where did he gain power and become famous?
He had illegal gambling businesses, the left blocked him and he reacted. He then threatened the police, killed people and then made a deal. Here it was strengthened. It became so powerful that when the gambling was closed it controlled over 50% of the points that were in the territory for gambling. In Albania, there were 16 thousand declared employees in this system.
The gambling business gave him money, he was also helped by a politician, an official, when he was in trouble. Martinaj was very good at understanding other people’s weaknesses, so he climbed so high. There was a block of his accounts, you couldn’t get rid of it, as soon as you took office as police chief, someone would come and say: “The monthly salary is this much if you want to cooperate, don’t go against us, don’t disrupt our work”.
He was able to understand people who were after money, seduced them and turned them into his own weapons against the state. Martinaj’s problem was that he turned from a businessman into a gangster. He is the first to mix business, organized crime and politics, that’s why he turned into a public enemy, an extremely big danger”, said the journalist.
