Businessman Dritan Gremi and the company “Gremi Wellness” have been taken as defendants in the case of contraband botox, an investigation related to the “Botulinum Toxin” operation, developed by the Albanian authorities in October 2024.
Gremi and the company he administers are suspected of introducing into Albania “Botox” products with the active principle Botulinum toxin, which did not have authorization for trade in the country.
The case is currently at the stage of the preliminary hearing in the Court of Tirana, while the next hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2026.
In the framework of the investigation, uncertified medical equipment, found during inspections at the “Gremi Clinic” premises, was also taken into consideration.
The investigation started after the “Botulinum Toxin” operation, during which the authorities carried out checks in about 30 beauty clinics and hairdressing salons in Tirana, under the suspicion that unregistered and unauthorized Botox was used for trading in Albania.
During the checks, products containing botulinum toxin were seized, while the investigators also focused on the supply and distribution of products in aesthetic clinics.
In the first stages of the operation, three people were declared wanted, among them the doctor Skerdi Faria, administrator of the “Keit” clinic, suspected at that time of involvement in the activity related to the use of unregistered botox.
After the development of the investigation, according to the data made public, the case against Faria has been dismissed, as he is no longer facing the charges in this file, Joq writes.
After almost two years from the operation of 2024, the proceedings continued with Dritan Gremi and “Gremi Wellness” being charged as defendants, while for Skerdi Faria, the proceedings were closed with the dismissal of the case.
Gremi has openly stated that Botox was not sold in his business, and this was proven by the control of 1600 files.
And yet today he faces the charge of “Trading and transporting goods that are contraband”, even though not a single gram of botox was found in his business.
Meanwhile, he clarifies that during this action in other clinics, amounts of botox were found and seized, but other people were not sent for trial.
The full reaction of Dritan Gremi and “Gremi Wellness”:
Two words about the news circulated in the media today
This whole story started because I refused to submit to the pressure of an OPGJ of the Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana and a prosecutor who supported him, within the framework of an investigation into the trading of botox in Tirana.
After I publicly denounced the way I believed I and my business had been treated, what followed made me believe that I was also facing the consequences of the fact that I had chosen not to remain silent.
My business did not sell botox. Not then, not today.
During the inspection, about 10 “Eagles” operatives were called, as the OPGJ claimed that they had felt under pressure from two girls of my staff.
Login and access to the clinic database was also requested. According to the documentation I have, this was not subject to control and had no judicial authorization. I have contested the legality of this action ever since.
About 1,600 patient records were retrieved and reviewed.
And after all this checking, how much botox was found in my business?
ZERO. Not even a gram.
From about 1,600 files, 11 people, mostly my friends, were treated for free.
I stated from the beginning that I was not involved in the purchase, insurance or trade of botox, I did not know where it was purchased, who provided it or how much it cost, and I had no financial interest in these treatments.
However, today I also face the charge under Article 178 of the Criminal Code – “Trading and transporting goods that are contraband”.
The law provides for the trading, alienation or transportation of goods known to be contraband.
Therefore, my legal questions are very specific:
What is the contraband that I allegedly traded?
Where was it found?
What is the proof that I have traded, alienated or transported?
And what is the proof that I know this merchandise was contraband?
In my business, according to the documents I have, not a single gram of Botox was found or seized.
But there is another question that deserves an answer.
If during the same investigation, as it results from the information I have, quantities of botox were found and seized in other subjects, but other people were not sent for trial, while I face this charge even though no botox was found in my business, then I have the right to ask:
What is the legal explanation for this difference? If there is a legal explanation, I am the first to hear it.
Because the law should apply equally to everyone.
I am not denouncing this story today because it appeared in the media. I have publicly denounced it from the beginning and continue to defend my position through legal channels.
To the reporter who broke the story: I think you’re wrong.
This case has been open since December 2025. It did not arise today, yesterday or last week. However, you chose to publish it just days before the first court hearing, with a headline that presented “botox smuggling” as if it were already proven fact.
An accusation is not guilt. The court decides the guilt.
To me, the timing of the release raises a legitimate question:
Why now? I don’t know where the information came from and I don’t want to prejudge the motive. But a chronic reporter knows all too well the weight a criminal charge carries and the damage it can cause when it is presented publicly as proven fact before the court has spoken.
And I’m saying it for another reason: when you yourself publicly claimed that injustice was done to you, even without knowing it personally, you had my solidarity.
Therefore, I believe that the figure of the journalist must be protected, but it is protected above all with professionalism, verification and respect for the presumption of innocence.
After my clarification, all the media that had published the news removed it. I publicly thank their managers for their professionalism and responsibility.
And two words about justice.
I fully agree that prosecutors, judges and OPGJ should have high and dignified salaries. The responsibility they bear is tremendous and honest professionals should be well paid and have the support of society.
But the salary, authority and power given by the law must also be accompanied by high responsibility for the way the duty is exercised.
If the competent institutions prove that someone has abused his duty, he should not damage the image of hundreds of prosecutors, judges and justice workers who do their work honestly.
I have the utmost respect for people of justice who apply the law with integrity. But respect for justice does not mean being silent when you think you have been treated unfairly.
I was not silent then and I do not intend to be silent today.
