New U.S. Testimony Links Shkelzen Berisha to Gerdec Explosion and Chinese Arms Contract

David Packouz, the former American arms dealer and musician best known for his involvement in AEY Inc., a company led by Efraim Diveroli that supplied AK-47 ammunition to the Afghan army, recently appeared on the Connect podcast. During the podcast, Packouz discussed the contract he and Diveroli signed with the Albanian government, which took place during the Sali Berisha’s government. He also touched on his meetings with senior officials from Berisha’s administration, including Berisha’s son, Shkelzen, and mentioned the $300 million contract AEY secured with the Albanian government.

Packouz explained that Diveroli secured this contract with the help of Albanian businessman Mihal Delijorgji, who was closely connected to Shkelzen Berisha. He also recounted the scandal involving the repackaging of the ammunition to conceal its Chinese origins, which violated AEY’s contract with the U.S. government. To handle the repackaging, AEY initially hired an Albanian company owned by businessman Kosta Trebicka.

However, Delijorgji later convinced Diveroli that his company could handle the repackaging at a lower cost, emphasizing the government support he enjoyed—implicitly referring to his ties with Shkelzen Berisha. As a result, Diveroli cancelled the contract with Trebicka and hired Delijorgji's company instead.

Trebicka, upset over losing the business, exposed the affair publicly. Not long after, Trebicka died in what was reported as an accident, though Packouz’s body language during the podcast suggested he believed Trebicka may have been murdered.

This is the first time one of the key players in the arms-dealing affair has spoken publicly about these events. According to publicly available information, SPAK (Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime) has requested Packouz’s testimony in the ongoing trial concerning this matter.

So far, the trial in Albania has focused on the Gerdec tragedy—a deadly explosion at a factory in the village of Gerdec. The factory was supposed to dismantle Chinese ammunition, but instead, the ammunition was being repackaged for resale to the Afghan army. This explosion not only killed numerous workers but also claimed the lives of local residents, including children. The investigation also covers the illegal sale of Chinese ammunition, a scheme linked to Shkelzen Berisha and Mihal Delijorgji, who controlled the operation.

Packouz’s testimony could provide crucial insights into Shkelzen Berisha’s abuse of power and his connections, facilitated by his father, Prime Minister Sali Berisha. It may also shed light on the circumstances surrounding Kosta Trebicka’s death, which has never been thoroughly investigated.

SPAK has initiated legal proceedings against Shkelzen Berisha for his involvement in the Gerdec affair, probing his assets and his misuse of his father’s political influence—a factor that led to Sali Berisha being designated as "non-grata" by the U.S. Since Sali Berisha claims this designation is unfounded, Packouz’s testimony could serve as key evidence. It suggests that Shkelzen Berisha not only pushed Trebicka out of the ammunition repackaging business but also raises questions about his potential involvement in Trebicka’s suspicious death.

Furthermore, Packouz’s account underscores Shkelzen Berisha’s pivotal role in securing government contracts during his father’s administration. Through Delijorgji, he facilitated the contract for dismantling the ammunition, which ultimately led to the Gerdec tragedy. He also helped the two American businessmen secure a deal to illegally purchase Chinese ammunition in Albania, which was then sold to the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

This second scandal was investigated in the U.S., leading to convictions for those involved. The story was even adapted into a book, "Arms and the Dudes," and later into a movie. While the case is well-known internationally, in Albania, neither Shkelzen Berisha nor his father has been thoroughly questioned by the justice system despite their central roles in the scandal.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Dëshmia nga SHBA që provon se Shkëlzen Berisha vendosi për kontratën e fishekëve kinezë në Gërdec"