Scandals, arrests and resignations: Vlora Cadastre, a hotbed of corruption that is burning

The Vlora cadastre was closed after years of scandals, investigations, denunciations and successive institutional failures, becoming one of the most flagrant examples of mismanagement of public property in Albania.

The decision to dissolve it did not come suddenly. It is the culmination of a long history where court decisions were not implemented, leaders left one after another, and former officials ended up in prison.

Supreme Court decision not implemented

One of the most significant cases that openly exposed the institution's failure was the non-implementation of a final decision of the Supreme Court, for the registration of 60 co-owners of a 6094 m² property in the Uji i Ftohtë area, Vlora.

Although the court had ruled in favor of Ismail Shehu's legal heirs, the Vlora State Cadastre Agency refused to implement the decision, keeping the property registered only in the names of the 5 heirs, while a complex of buildings is being built on the land.

The heirs publicly denounced that a former director of the Cadastre had admitted to receiving death threats to invalidate a mortgage certificate where 42 co-owners were registered, issuing an internal order within a month.

An institution with 13 leaders in 5 years

The Vlora cadastre became a "powder keg" for whoever ran it. In the last 5 years alone, 13 directors have been appointed, dismissed or resigned.

In 2019, three directors left within a month after failing to implement another Supreme Court ruling on a coastal property. Florian Almadhi resigned on September 9, was replaced by Alteo Nazeraj who stayed for less than 10 days, and then by Elona Hodaj, who left on October 9.

Even in the following years, the situation did not change. Just a year later, the Cadastre changed 7 more directors, from Taulant Canameti to Andi Binaj.

Fast appointments and dismissals in 2025

In March 2025, Erjon Galanxhi was appointed director of the Vlora Cadastre, but he only stayed for about three months. After his departure, Paola Sullaj took over, while in June 2025 Genc Deromemaj was appointed, who left in November of the same year.

Meanwhile, Erdet Mandi, one of the last leaders, was dismissed by order from the center after being reported for abuse of office.

SPAK, criminal reports and investigations

The scandals did not remain only at the administrative level. 8 officials and former officials of the Vlora Cadastre were reported to SPAK for abuse of office, as they are suspected of having legalized a building by violating the land of the Muslim Community of Vlora.

The list of those reported includes current and former managers, sector heads and specialists, for whom serious violations have been found in the issuance of legalization permits and property titles.

In July 2025, the Judicial Police, by order of the Vlora Prosecutor's Office, conducted searches at the Cadastre offices, seizing and photocopying files related to an unfinished building, for which the legality of the permit and the multiple sale of apartments are being investigated.

The Chamber of Advocates' Alarm: "Hotbed of Abuse"

The Vlora Local Bar Association officially requested SPAK and the Vlora Prosecutor's Office to investigate the Cadastre, describing it as a "hotbed of mismanagement and abuse."

According to lawyers: massive legal uncertainty was created, citizens and businesses were severely harmed, and there were serious suspicions of corruption, abuse of power, and obstruction of justice.

Arrests that tarnished the institution's image

In November 2021, the Court of Appeal in Vlora upheld the "prison arrest" measure for the former director of the Cadastre, Klodian Troci, accused of being part of a criminal group for falsifying property documents in Himara and Dhërmi.

During a search of his apartment, police found 65,000 euros in cash, while investigations revealed a wide-ranging scheme of property alienation and theft of archival files.

From scandals to meltdown

All these events – non-implementation of court decisions, absurd rotation of directors, reports to SPAK, inspections, arrests and public denunciations – led the Vlora Cadastre towards institutional collapse.

The decision to dissolve it comes as a tacit admission of the total failure of an institution that became a symbol of property corruption.