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The question that remains is what is behind this collaboration and whether the authorities will investigate the connection between these two figures and the sources of financing for their businesses...
Chef Ismet Shehu has taken over 10 army tunnels, former military barracks and other public properties with an area of over 80 thousand m2, turning them all into profitable businesses. The Cereni barracks, where soldiers once trained, has now been turned into Shehu's restaurant. The soldiers have left the barracks gates, the chef has entered through other doors, those of clientelism and strong connections.
Having cheated on taxes for 5 years, Shehu's businesses stretch from Surrel to Palasa, including an entire food empire that feeds more on evasion of the law than on customers. Through his two nephews, Shehu has also secured public money for lunches and dinners hosted by several public institutions, turning the state's generosity into a regular source of income for his own pocket.
His business is advertised by Edi Rama himself as a model of success, although in reality it turns out to be a model of tax evasion and exploitation of employees. We are talking about Ismet Shehu, the owner of the famous restaurant 'Ceren', one of the main beneficiaries of the army's properties, over 80 thousand m2 of former wards and tunnels. Shehu, who proudly claims to have cooked for Queen Elizabeth of England, is paid a minimum salary of 30 thousand lek per month, as a chef in his restaurant located near Edi Rama's house. The same chef, with the same hands that are claimed to have cooked for the queen, goes and cooks lamb for Edi Rama at Sarajet e Surrel, a service that he probably cannot pay for with 30 thousand lek.
But recently, in June 2026, chef Ismet Shehu abandoned lamb and now he has become an expert in mussels and fish. From lamb to mussels within a month. Shehu opened the Zafira restaurant in Dhërmi, in partnership with Gërçec businessman Rrahman Selmanllari.
The "Zafira" restaurant in Dhërmi is the company "RM GROUP SHPK", officially registered on May 19, 2026 and activated on June 8, 2026, at the same address where the restaurant is located. The object of this company, bar-cafe-restaurant, hotel, beach station and parking in partnership with Selmanllari.
Who is the businessman from Gërdec, Rrahman Selmanllari?
'Xhambazi'Rrahman Selmanllari, known to his relatives as "Rafi", is a Tirana builder and businessman who has been known as Shkëlzen Berisha's "brother" for almost two decades. He is considered to be the representative of the Berisha family's business interests in real estate transactions. Selmanllari is linked to several drug trafficking groups targeted by SPAK, details of which belong to another article.
Selmanllari has another dark history, that of Gërdec. The prosecution identified Selmanllari as part of the so-called "shadow group" that controlled the entry and exit of ammunition and supervised the workers. Gërdec was one of Albania's greatest tragedies, but for Selmanllari it was simply an opportunity. Selmanllari was at the center of everything, but when the time came to give an account, he was treated simply as a "person with knowledge". The Plepa justice of that time decided that Shkëlzen's "brother" should not be punished. Despite his central role as a bridge between the SAC, the government and Shkëlzen Berisha's circle.
Rrahman Selmanllari is also part of the tower of the former "Shqipëria Sot" exhibition, seized by SPAK as a product of Ervin Mata's money, the cocaine kingpin. Albana Vokshi's husband, Arian Tartari, is a 50% shareholder in the Vision Construction company. The other shareholder is Shkëlzen Berisha's 'brother' in Gërdec and in the Family's property affairs, Rrahman Selmanllari.
Ismet Shehu and Rrahman Selmanllari have now joined forces in Dhërmi. The chef who cooked lamb for the prime minister and the "brother" of Shkëlzen Berisha, the businessman from Gërdec and the former exhibition tower, are partners in the "Zafira" restaurant, officially registered as "RM GROUP SHPK".
This business alliance brings together two different worlds: one that has benefited from 80 thousand m2 of public land of the army and the other that has controlled ammunition in Gërdec and participated in dubious privatization schemes. One is financed by a drug trafficking friend in Europe, the other is connected to drug trafficking groups hit by SPAK. The two have joined forces in Dhërmi, where Shehu now cooks mussels and fish, while Selmanllari continues to expand his business empire. The question that remains is what is hidden behind this collaboration and whether the authorities, including SPAK, will investigate the connection between these two figures and the sources of financing of their businesses. /Pamphlet
Skan faj njerzit ne proteste.