probe – Albanian Telegraphic Agency.

SPAK updates public on Balluku corruption probe

Pandi Skaka — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:23:41 +0000

TIRANA, September 9 /ATA/ The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime reported today that it has conducted further investigation and has discovered new facts regarding the former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku.

SPAK said that prosecutors have requested a preventive seizure of real estate in Palasa, which they suspect is secretly owned by the former minister.

The investigation results that the defendant Belinda Balluku has in de facto ownership the immovable property “Family Villa 2F no.188/1, Nukli 27”, in the “Green Coast” complex, Palasa, Himara, which has resulted to be a hidden asset.

To hide this undeclared asset, the defendant Belinda Balluku used citizen Igli Tare, carrying out fictitious actions through the undertaking contract, dated 26.10.2020, in the amount of 250,000 euros, said SPAK. /r.e/p.s./

Authorities arrest eight in call centre crypto fraud case

Urim Shera — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 16:06:07 +0000

TIRANA, Jan 18 /ATA/ – Albania’s Special Anticorruption and Organized Crime Prosecution Structure (SPAK) said on Sunday it had arrested eight people while three other suspects have been declared wanted in an investigation into alleged computer fraud through a network of call centres in Tirana,

SPAK said suspects used fraudulent online platforms to persuade Italian and other European victims to invest in cryptocurrencies. Six people were caught in the act and two others detained under court orders, while searches were carried out at 28 locations by investigators and police.

The probe was launched on Jan. 9 after material was submitted by journalists from the Italian investigative programme Le Iene, SPAK said.

Investigators identified a call centre in central Tirana that operated in several European languages and employed security measures to evade detection. Equipment was moved overnight after organisers were alerted, but investigators tracked and seized computer systems, documents and vehicles, including a luxury car, SPAK said.

Investigations are continuing in cooperation with foreign authorities to identify all victims.

/m.m/r.e/u.sh/

Berisha strongly condemns six-month extension of probe into ex-president Meta

Urim Shera — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:18:11 +0000

TIRANA, June 11 /ATA/ – Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha has strongly condemned a decision to extend a corruption investigation into his opposition ally Ilir Meta for an additional six months.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the main opposition party leader Berisha said that the Special Anticorruption Prosecution’s decision to prolong detention of the Freedom Party chairman for six more months was a “politically motivated move, a political and criminal act showing the fear and horror of (Prime Minister) Edi Rama.”

“The decision showed Rama’s fear and absolute intolerance towards opposition. Ilir Meta was detained brutally, without an arrest warrant, on orders issued by Edi Rama only,” Berisha claimed.

According to him, “Ilir Meta is being held without evidence and accused the judiciary of acting on political orders.”

He went on claiming that the six-month extension of a corruption investigation into former president Ilir Meta was a “serious violation of the national law and international conventions on human rights.”

/m.m/a.f/u.sh/