Police link gym footage to suspected amphetamine import

Police believe they have traced the movements of Kastriot Pepaj, who is charged with organising the import of 14.1 litres of amphetamine base, by comparing Signal messages, telecommunications data, vehicle movements and security camera footage, mbl.is reports.

The information is contained in a detention ruling published on the website of Landsréttur, Iceland’s court of appeal.

Pepaj and Sævar Örn Hilmarsson are charged with an aggravated drug offence, along with two crew members of the ship Dettifoss. Police believe Pepaj organised the import, while Sævar acted as his contact with the crew members.

The crew members allegedly received the amphetamine base in Bremerhaven, Germany, hid it aboard Dettifoss and transported it to Iceland. The drugs were concealed in four Absolut vodka bottles. Each man was allegedly promised 2.5 million Icelandic krónur for the operation.

During an investigation of Sævar’s phone, police found Signal messages with a person they believe was Pepaj. The messages included discussions about 15 litres of amphetamine base and the delivery of the drugs.

Police compared the messages with Pepaj’s telecommunications data and information from a licence plate camera system. They say that on several occasions, when the Signal user and Sævar arranged to meet, Pepaj drove to Sævar’s home shortly afterwards.

Police consider a visit by Pepaj to a gym on April 9 particularly significant. The Signal user had asked Sævar whether he wanted to go to the gym. Sævar declined, but Pepaj went to the gym shortly afterwards.

While Pepaj was there, the Signal user received a message from Sævar saying, “But let’s meet tonight.” The reply was, “Okay.”

According to police, footage shows Pepaj taking a phone from his trouser pocket and looking at the screen at the same time. His wife’s cousin then took the phone, typed on it and handed it back to him. Pepaj’s primary phone showed no activity during this period.

Later that day, Pepaj was seen with a phone again when the Signal user received a video call. His primary phone again showed no activity.

Pepaj has denied any connection to the import and denied being behind the Signal account. He told police that the phone he was seen with at the gym belonged to his cousin.

When asked why telecommunications data repeatedly placed him at Sævar’s home shortly after the Signal users had arranged to meet, Pepaj said it was a coincidence and that he had probably been driving Sævar’s children home.

Pepaj was arrested on April 22 and has been held in detention since then. Sævar and the two crew members were arrested when Dettifoss arrived in Reykjavík on April 13.