Speaking at a public meeting in Tirana’s Administrative Unit No. 5, Rama said the government will act against developers who exceed permitted building limits or ignore construction site regulations.

“We are currently targeting all illegal activity in the most expensive villa areas of Tirana, beyond TEG shopping mall. We will not forgive a single square meter. Where possible, villas will be confiscated and transformed into kindergartens, nurseries, or health centers,” he said.

Rama stressed that property owners have the right to develop their land legally but “no meter beyond what is allowed by law and custom.” He noted that public land disputes in Tirana are extensive, due to overlapping ownership claims and historical records.

The prime minister added that the National Planning and Housing Agency is developing formulas to collaborate with developers and require them to allocate space for childcare facilities.

“The need for kindergartens and nurseries grows every year. Tirana has built a positive reputation for its childcare services, and more parents want to enroll their children,” Rama said.

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This step was taken in context of investigations initiated after reporting materials by the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets.

The penal offenses subject of investigation are: refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets, private interests of elected persons and public servants or of any other person who has the legal obligation to declare.

The investigations conducted have revealed that citizen E.Ç., during the period 2014–2017, was subject to declaration in the Inspectorate. He has concealed and falsely declared private assets and interests, not justifying them with legal sources of income.

In this context, the Prosecution has also registered the property proceeding, including his wife in the investigation as a related person.

According to the financial analysis prepared by the legal auditor, it has been found that E.Ç. and B.C. do not justify several considerable assets, both movable and immovable, including land, apartments, forests and bank accounts.

The Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Tirana evaluated the request of the Prosecution as correct and has ordered the seizure of the aforementioned assets. /j.p/p.s./

SPAK said that investigation has shown that there is concrete evidence that lead to reasonable suspicion that Erion Veliaj, who is in pretrial detention in Durres since February 10, 2025, has committed another criminal offense.

The special anti-corruption body said in a press statement that there is reasonable suspicion that the couple failed to declare assets and may have concealed ownership of two properties adjacent to their residence in the upscale Kodra e Diellit area in the Albanian capital.

“Concrete evidence and data collected up to this stage of the preliminary investigation, there is evidence-based reasonable suspicion that the citizens E.V. and A.X. have factual property interests in two properties (one of which is additional property), which are neighboring the apartment located in Selitë, (Kodra e Diellit residence), where these citizens currently live,” SPAK stated in its release.

The investigation, launched in 2024, covers a wide range of potential offenses including high-level corruption, money laundering, false asset declarations, and obstruction of justice

First Instance Special Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Court has decided to put the two immovable properties under preventive sequestration.

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The money have been sequestrated from the bank accounts of Ilir Beqaj, Ermal Kurtulaj, Bjona Zijaj, Bledar Lekë, Gazmend Haxhija and Elton Marini.

“The Special Prosecutor’s Office had requested from the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime the sequestration of wealth of the persons under investigation”, is read in the SPAK press release.

The Special Court ruled sequestration of several bank accounts, specifically on: ALL 14,323,125; 15,542 euros; 42 318 USD.

Also, there were sequestrated over 19.4% of the quotas of the trading company “Albanian Food and Hospitality Services”.

There were also sequestrated three registered vehicles owned by persons under investigation E.K and E.M.

The investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation, together with the officers of the General Directorate of the State Police and the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets have taken the necessary actions for the execution of these decisions. /m.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Police said Wednesday that 3250 more cannabis plants were seized and destroyed at the 18 phase fof the operation in the region.

Police said that nine suspects have been arrested on cannabis cultivation charges, while 11 others have been declared wanted during the operation from April 29 to October 4.

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The operation was conducted after the police intelligence information over a case of cannabis cultivation in the area of the coastal town of Velipoje, north-western Albania.

“The Directorate of Professional Standards at the State Police set up a special investigation team to determine the responsibility of the relevant local structures, the reasons for the failure to report this criminal activity by these structures themselves,” State Police said in a press statement.

Police said that four police officers were suspended for failing to accomplish their duties in identifying and reporting cannabis cultivation cases.

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“The Office for Asset Recovery will be dedicated to tracking and identifying assets generated through criminal activity and that can become subject to assets seizure or confiscation orders,” Justice Minister Gjonaj said.

The Deputy Justice Minister Pirdeni has convened a working group comprising law enforcement representatives from the Prosecutor General Office, State Police, SPAK, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and the Agency for Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets.

Decision making will be part of an open discussion with local and international actors, and civil society representatives.

“With the establishment of this Office, Albania will also fulfil one of the obligations as part of the European integration  process and efforts to strengthen the fight against corruption and organized crime,” Gjonaj said.

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