Albanian fugitive wanted over ‘blood feud’ murders arrested after 25 years
The U.S. Marshals Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Valentin Ftoni on Thursday. Albania seeks him in connection with several killings and an INTERPOL alert.
Albanian officials link the 2000 murders of a married couple to a blood feud. Ftoni is wanted to serve a 25-year sentence over those killings, and Albanian authorities also seek him over another murder and identify him as the main suspect in a fourth.
The U.S. Marshals Service began searching for Ftoni in August using information from INTERPOL Tirana. Investigators found that he had lived unlawfully in the United States since the early 2000s, mostly around New York, using several false identities.
Ftoni was taken into federal custody after his arrest and will stay detained while immigration proceedings move forward. The case highlights cooperation between U.S. and Albanian law enforcement agencies.
Key points
- Ftoni is wanted in Albania over several murders, including the 2000 killings of a married couple.
- U.S. agencies located him after a search launched in August with information from INTERPOL Tirana.
- He remains in federal custody pending immigration proceedings.