Escaped prisoner who fled brother’s funeral believed to be in Melbourne, police say
Victoria police say accused drug importer Orijol Rukaj is likely still in Melbourne after escaping custody at his brother’s funeral.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Police believe Orijol Rukaj, a remand prisoner accused of drug importation, escaped while attending his brother’s funeral in Melbourne and may still be in the city. Investigators say he likely left in a dark Toyota LandCruiser and have urged him or anyone with information to come forward.
Police say a man who was being watched by officers at his brother’s funeral slipped away in a crowded cemetery and has not been found since. It is like someone walking out of a busy party through the back door while everyone is looking the other way.
Analysis
What happened
Victoria police say Orijol Rukaj escaped custody on Anzac Day while attending his brother’s funeral at a Melbourne cemetery in Keilor East. He had been escorted there by corrections staff and was acting as a pallbearer when he disappeared.
Police said the funeral was very crowded, with about 300 people present, which made it hard for staff to keep track of him. Acting Det Insp Simon Pengelly said police believe a dark-coloured Toyota LandCruiser picked Rukaj up and drove away from the scene.
Where the investigation stands
Rukaj has not been seen for six weeks. Police said inquiries at 20 addresses around Melbourne led them to believe he is still in the metropolitan area. They also said they had identified several people they think helped plan the escape, though the people were described as being offshore.
One person was arrested at Melbourne airport on Thursday but later released without charge.
Who he is
Police say Rukaj is 47, on remand, and accused of drug importation. They also allege he has ties to the Albanian mafia. They have described him as thin, Caucasian, about 176cm tall, with hazel eyes and short brown hair. He has links to Sunbury and St Albans.
Police said they do not believe he is violent, but stressed the charges are serious. They are asking anyone with information to contact police, and they have also urged Rukaj to hand himself in at a nearby station.
Key points
- Victoria police believe Orijol Rukaj escaped custody during his brother’s funeral in Melbourne on Anzac Day.
- Officers say he may have been picked up by a dark-coloured Toyota LandCruiser after evading corrections staff.
- Police believe he is still in metropolitan Melbourne after searching 20 addresses linked to him and his associates.
- Investigators say he faces serious drug-importation allegations, but they do not believe he is violent.
- Police are asking anyone with information to contact them, and they want Rukaj to hand himself in.
Police say they believe Rukaj is still in Melbourne, which could make him easier to find if people come forward with useful information. They are also asking him to turn himself in, which could end the search without further risk to the public.
If the people police believe helped him stay hidden are right, the search could take longer and involve more people outside Australia. The longer he remains missing, the harder it may be to verify his movements and secure the case.
