The court has ruled in the case involving Albanian businessman Trifon Murataj, with criminal proceedings reportedly dismissed following an investigation into 33 kilograms of cocaine discovered at the Port of Durrës in 2022. The decision also concerns Petrit Demishaj and ZICO SHA, the company associated with the Bana King banana brand.
According to reporting by TV Klan, the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Durrës dismissed the proceedings against Murataj, Demishaj and ZICO SHA. The ruling reportedly became final on June 23, 2026.
The case drew attention because the narcotics were discovered inside a container carrying bananas through an international commercial shipping route. The investigation subsequently examined company records, cargo movements, forensic findings and information obtained from foreign authorities.
Trifon Murataj Court Ruling: What Did the Durrës Court Decide?
According to the published account, the Durrës court ordered the dismissal of proceedings involving Trifon Murataj, Petrit Demishaj and ZICO SHA.
Murataj is associated with the Bana King brand, while Demishaj served as administrator of the company. Both were named in the investigation following the discovery of cocaine inside a banana shipping container.
The reported decision represents a favorable legal outcome for those involved and brings the described proceedings to a close.
However, it is important to distinguish between a dismissal of criminal proceedings and a formal acquittal. The precise legal grounds for the ruling must be established from the official court decision.
How the 33 Kilogram Cocaine Investigation Began
The investigation originated in October 2022, when Albanian authorities discovered approximately 33 kilograms of cocaine inside a container transporting bananas through the Port of Durrës.
The discovery prompted questions about the shipment's origin, its international route and whether individuals connected to the importing company had any involvement in the narcotics.
Investigators examined the available commercial documentation and sought to reconstruct the container's movements before its arrival in Albania.
Because the shipment had passed through international transportation networks, the investigation also required cooperation with authorities outside Albania.
ZICO SHA Reportedly Requested Container Inspections in Advance
One of the elements highlighted in reporting about the case was a notification allegedly submitted by ZICO SHA before the relevant shipment was inspected.
According to TV Klan, the company sent a request on October 19, 2022, asking Albanian authorities to inspect its containers following warnings from suppliers about possible attempts to conceal narcotics in banana shipments originating from Ecuador.
The reported document was identified by protocol number 16140 and was addressed to authorities responsible for policing, customs and border security.
The communication was described as part of the company's response to potential cargo security risks.
Its relevance to the legal proceedings depends on how the court assessed the document alongside the other evidence collected during the investigation.
International Evidence and the Container's Route Through Italy
The investigation included information reportedly obtained through international judicial cooperation.
According to TV Klan, findings attributed to Swiss authorities raised the possibility that the cocaine discovered in Albania had been left behind from a larger shipment originating in Ecuador.
The reporting referred to the container's passage through the Port of Gioia Tauro in Italy, where 50 boxes of bananas were said to have been unloaded.
Investigators reportedly examined a scenario in which traffickers had removed the main quantity of narcotics during an earlier stage of the shipment, leaving a smaller amount inside the container.
This account was presented as an investigative possibility rather than an independently established conclusion about the origin of the cocaine.
What Did the Forensic Investigation Find?
Forensic examinations were among the investigative steps described in reporting about the case.
According to the published account, fingerprint examinations did not identify usable traces connecting the seized cocaine packages to Trifon Murataj or Petrit Demishaj.
Investigators also reportedly examined a mobile phone belonging to Petrit Demishaj. No suspicious communications relating to the shipment were reported as having been identified during that examination.
Additional material reportedly included statements from workers in Ecuador and information gathered through cooperation with foreign authorities.
These findings formed part of the reported evidentiary record. The official judicial decision remains the authoritative source for determining how the court evaluated them.
Reported Return of the Financial Guarantee
TV Klan also reported that the court ordered the return of a 3 million Albanian lek financial guarantee associated with Trifon Murataj.
The published account further described the termination of restrictive measures connected to the proceedings.
These reported procedural decisions accompanied the dismissal of the case and are relevant to understanding the practical consequences of the ruling.
What Does the Final Court Decision Mean?
The reported outcome brings the proceedings involving Trifon Murataj, Petrit Demishaj and ZICO SHA to an end.
In criminal law, a dismissal of proceedings and a formal acquittal are not interchangeable terms. A dismissal may occur for different procedural or substantive reasons, depending on the applicable legal framework and the circumstances of the case.
For that reason, descriptions of the Durrës court ruling should follow the exact wording of its operative decision and accompanying legal reasoning.
The reported conclusion of the case is nevertheless an important development for the individuals and company involved, following several years of investigation and legal proceedings.
What the Bana King Case Reveals About International Cargo Security
The investigation also raises broader questions about security in international commercial shipping.
Containers carrying legitimate goods can pass through multiple ports and handling facilities before reaching their final destinations. This creates challenges for businesses and law enforcement when criminal groups attempt to exploit commercial transportation networks.
For importers, maintaining accurate shipping records, documenting potential threats and communicating promptly with authorities can support cargo security and help establish a clear record of commercial activity.
For investigators, the central task remains determining whether the available evidence establishes responsibility for alleged criminal conduct.
The reported dismissal of the proceedings involving Trifon Murataj, Petrit Demishaj and ZICO SHA concludes the specific legal case described in TV Klan's reporting, while illustrating the importance of careful evidence assessment in international cargo investigations.
Source: TV Klan's reporting on the Durrës court decision. The exact legal grounds, finality of the ruling and procedural measures should be confirmed against the official judicial documents.