Following one of the most extensive criminal investigations the Reykjavík area police force has conducted, the police have a confession in the case of the murder of Armando Beqirai, a resident of Iceland and Albanian national. Armando was shot to death outside his home in East Reykjavík last month, leaving behind an Icelandic wife and young child, who were in the home when the incident occurred. The confession is in line with other evidence and the police’s theories.
At a press conference earlier today, Chief Superintendent Margeir Sveinsson, the police officer in charge of the investigation went over the milestones in the investigation. Shortly before midnight February 13, the police were called to the body of a man in his thirties. He was declared dead on the scene and an autopsy later revealed that he had been shot nine times. The murder weapon, a 22-calibre handgun with a silencer, was found in the sea by the capital area in March.
The police investigation was extensive, and suspicion soon arose that the murder was part of a settlement between criminal groups, domestic as well as international. 14 people were detained during the investigation and at one point, nine were in custody at the same time. The police searched 17 different locations and confiscated phones, computers, cars, firearms, and ammunition, to name some. They spoke to several witnesses and looked at phone and computer data as well as surveillance footage. The people under investigation were of several different nationalities, Icelandic, Albanian, Romanian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Estonian, Serbian, Lithuanian and Belorusian, something Margeir stated was unusual compared to countries around us.
The person who confessed to the murder is originally from Albania like the victim but has been living in Iceland for the past 7-8 years. As the case is being investigated in connection with organised crime, Margeir stated that the police were worried that they would receive a false confession but that they have strong evidence to corroborate the confession.
While the police are instituting protective measures for people connected to the case and their families, in order to prevent violent retribution, Margeir stated that the police did not believe the public was in any danger.
