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British Hitman Jailed for Life in Albania
27 Mar
Summary
- Hitman trained in UK jailed for life without parole.
- Murder linked to a 30-year blood feud between families.
- Victim suspected of killing rival family member in 1997.
A hitman, Ruben Saraiva, who grew up in the UK, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in Albania for the premeditated murder of businessman Ardian Nikulaj. The assassination, which occurred in April 2023, is alleged to be part of a complex blood feud spanning nearly three decades and involving nine previous fatalities.
Prosecutors contend that Saraiva, disguised as a delivery driver, entered a five-star hotel owned by Nikulaj in Shengjin, Albania, and fatally shot him six times. Saraiva had reportedly flown from London to Albania two months prior to the attack, allegedly as part of a British hit squad hired to carry out the operation.
The motive for the murder is believed to stem from a long-standing feud between Albanian families, with Nikulaj suspected of killing a relative of a rival family based in the UK in 1997. This act was allegedly in revenge for the murder of his own elder brother.
Saraiva was apprehended after fleeing to Greece and later Morocco, from where he was extradited to Albania. The Nikulaj family has expressed relief at Saraiva's conviction but voiced concerns about the ongoing delays in extraditing other alleged participants from the UK to face trial.
