January 27, 10

NEWS / International FBI Fugitive Captured in Toronto

NEWARK—Acting Special Agent In Charge Kevin Cruise announced today the capture of Myfit Dika, age 44, of Wycoff, New Jersey, who was captured by the Toronto Fugitive Task Force in Toronto, Canada sometime yesterday afternoon. Dika was wanted in connection with the takedown of a Balkan criminal enterprise that occurred in New Jersey and New York in March of 2009 in which 26 individuals were charged by indictment with a laundry list of crimes including narcotics and firearms trafficking, money laundering, interstate transportation of stolen property, and criminal conspiracy. At the time, 22 defendants were arrested or already in custody and four of the subjects were fugitives. In November of 2009, Gazmir Gjoka was arrested in Albania by Albanian authorities. The following month, Rodan Kote surrendered to the FBI at Newark Liberty airport after returning from Albania. The one remaining fugitive is Kujtim “Timmy” Lika.

Both Dika and Lika were featured prominently in a November 21, 2009 episode of the Fox Television show America’s Most Wanted. Although not a direct lead, FBI agents credit information from tips called into the show with yesterday’s capture of Dika. Dika was being tracked by the Toronto Fugitive Task Force when he was captured during a car stop sometime yesterday afternoon. Dika allegedly provided Toronto law enforcement false identification, but later admitted his true identity. He will face an initial appearance in the Canadian court system today. Extradition proceedings are expected to begin shortly after. There is no time frame for the duration of the extradition proceedings and Dika’s actual arrival in the United States.

Cruise credits several law enforcement entities around the world for the success in this case, including: the Toronto Fugitive Task Force, the Albanian State Police, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, DEA offices in Canada and Amsterdam, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Dutch Law Enforcement authorities, and the various municipal law enforcement agencies who provided support in this matter. “Cooperation is the key,” said Cruise. “It’s very difficult to hide when you are being hunted virtually everywhere in the world. Between the cooperation of global law enforcement and the media, it was only a matter of time before we caught Mr. Dika. Our focus is now on Kujtim Lika. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the FBI at 973-792-3000.”

All defendants are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Citizens are reminded that they should never attempt to apprehend a fugitive themselves. In an emergency, people should call 911.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Malagold at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, New Jersey under the direction of U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

http://newark.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/nk012610a.htm