How far has organized crime penetrated the Albanian Police?

Albania already has a new head of the State Police after the resignation of the previous head, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, who remained in office for almost two years. It has been a difficult period for the State Police, whose image has been damaged by several senior officers arrested, accused or convicted of serious crimes, including helping organized crime networks to execute rivals, allowing drug cultivation and money laundering. Some officers are accused of being directly involved in drug production and trafficking.

The new Chief of Police, Ilir Proda, also faced problems before he officially took office. SPAK prosecutors seized his phone along with the phones of other subordinates of Proda as part of an investigation into the possible unraveling of an operation against a violent criminal group. Proda is not currently facing any charges and the results of the investigation are unknown.

Some opposition MPs claim that organized crime networks are able to influence senior police officers in the areas controlled by them, offering them large sums of bribes. In an incident last month, opposition MP Gazment Bardhi claimed that Shkodra Police Director Edmond Sulaj had been placed in this position at the request of Pëllumb Gjoka, a local crime figure facing charges of murder. Sulaj denies the accusations as defamation and said that he was filing a criminal complaint against MP Bardhi.

The extent to which organized crime has infiltrated the State Police became clearer when French police gained access to thousands of secret messages sent by criminals using encrypted SKY/ECC phones. The messages contained information about dozens of criminal groups from all over the world, including Albania.

Last December, police officers in Albania were told to fill out a questionnaire about whether or not they had used any encrypted phones. No one admitted to having done such a thing. However, investigations based on SKY/ECC messages resulted in the arrest of a number of police officers suspected of involvement in organized crime.

 Suspected police officers

 Oltion Bistri The former head of the Operational Force, the department that executes arrest warrants, was arrested in July 2023 on charges of leaking secret information to organized crime networks in abuse of office. As part of Operation Metamorfoza, prosecutors seized property worth 3 million euros, including 22 shops, 10 apartments, a villa and seven cars.

Ardrit Hasanbegaj Former deputy the director of the Shkodra Police is accused of providing assistance to an organized crime group, while its members tried to kill their rivals.

Henerigert Mitri The former director of the Lezha Police is accused of episodes of large-scale cultivation of cannabis, participation in a criminal organization, corruption, illegal gambling and abuse of office.

Altin Morina A former officer of RENEA, the Special Police Force, Morina is facing charges of cannabis cultivation and participation in a criminal organization. The case against him alleges that he acted as an agent for Durim Bam, an organized crime figure charged with murder, offering to settle Bam and his friends' problems with the police, such as paying bribes to other officers. of the police. Morina was also an investor in cannabis plots in Fushë-Kruje.

Agustin Çinari The former employee of the Durrës Police is accused of using state resources, including the TIMS system, to track down the rivals of the gangster Franc Çopja, so that the latter could be killed.

Martin Musaj A former police officer in Elbasan and deputy prison director has been accused of helping the Çopja group in their plans to kill their enemies. He was arrested in July 2024.

Dedan Gjoni A former police chief in Tirana and Shijak was arrested in November 2023 and is accused of providing information in connection with murder plans. He is also accused of drug trafficking. Gjoni was arrested together with Erzen Brecanin, a former police chief in Tirana also involved in the venture. Brečani is accused of money laundering.

Dritan Metaj The former police chief of Kurbini, a region north of Tirana, was arrested in October 2023 on charges of assisting a criminal group to avoid arrest.

Agustin Deda and Hekuran Marku Both were part of the security group for the former Minister of the Interior, Saimir Tahiri. According to prosecutors, they allegedly organized the transport of one ton of cannabis from Albania to Italy in 2016.

Unidentified officers Prosecution files against organized crime groups mention a dozen cases where police officers cooperated with criminals, but the rates have not yet been identified. Reporter.al