Kristian and Adriana Gjoni flew from Toronto to Tirana this summer with news they wanted to share in person: they were expecting their first child.
The Albanian couple, who live in Toronto, never got to celebrate. Within hours of landing, Kristian was under arrest on suspicion of drug smuggling. Albanian police told the public that Adriana’s pregnancy was a lie.
It was not. Hospital records later confirmed the pregnancy, and then a miscarriage, according to CTV News’ W5, which reviewed the documents.
The couple had flown on one of Air Transat’s first direct flights from Toronto to Tirana, checking in four bags. After they landed, a customs officer asked why one of the bags was missing its tag.
Kristian was then sent to collect a lone suitcase still circling the carousel. He says it was not his. When officers opened it, they found 23.15 kilograms of cannabis.
“I told him, I’m not an employee of Pearson or Air Transat,” Kristian told W5.
Before leaving Toronto, the couple had done exactly what the Canadian government advises. Its travel guidance warns that criminal networks exploit luggage tags at airports to move drugs, and tells passengers to photograph their bags and tags before handing them over. The Gjonis had watched W5’s earlier investigation into bag-tag switching at Pearson, and they took the photos.
Albanian police saw it differently. They called the case “Operation Suitcases” and described Kristian’s bag photos as “extremely suspicious.” In July, authorities alleged that he had tried to avoid inspection by claiming his wife was pregnant, and said medical examinations showed the claim was false.
Adriana was taken to hospital, where doctors relied on an ultrasound without a blood test and told police she was not pregnant, W5 reported. A later blood test confirmed the pregnancy. She then suffered a miscarriage.
Kristian spent four days in solitary confinement. He was later released on bail after his lawyer, Ndue Pjetra, submitted evidence that included W5’s reporting on bag-tag switching at Pearson.
Canadian police back his account. In an October email, the RCMP told Kristian it had verified that the couple checked in only the four bags they picked up, and that it believes he was the victim of a bag-tag switch.
Another Canadian passenger on the same flight was also questioned after her tag was found on a second suitcase holding about 23 kilograms of cannabis. She was released without charge.
Air Transat said it takes allegations of interference with its baggage system very seriously, recognized the distress caused to Mr. Gjoni and his family, and cooperated with authorities.
Kristian, an IT businessman, is back in Toronto but must return to Tirana every four months to check in with police. His trial is expected to begin in early 2027. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
“I don’t think we’re ever going to fully move past it,” he told W5.
