Alleged fugitive sought for three years arrested in canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
May 24, 2012 |
NEWARK, N.J. – A former Passaic County man who has been a fugitive since being charged in 2009 with multiple crimes in connection with an investigation into several loosely connected Balkan criminal enterprises operating throughout New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Canada, and the Netherlands was arrested today in Canada, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Kujtim Lika, 47, (a/k/a “Timmy”) was arrested early this morning by the Toronto Police Department/Toronto Task Force. He had been using the alias “Dashamir Cela” at the time of his arrest. Lika will have his initial court appearance in Toronto.
Three years ago, the FBI, in conjuction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) charged 26 individuals – including Lika – with numerous crimes, including narcotics and firearms trafficking, money laundering, interstate transportation of stolen property, and criminal conspiracy. The arrests were part of a joint operation between federal agencies that began in late 2003 with targets in Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States.
Lika’s case has been featured on the television program “America’s Most Wanted.”
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Malagold, chief of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations against Lika are merely accusations, and the defendant is are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of New Jersey.
FEMA is now accepting applications from residents and business owners who sustained losses in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Essex County, Hudson County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County and Union County.
Register online at
www.disasterassistance.gov , by web-enabled mobile device atm.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.
