Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (, SPAK) is an independent judicial entity tasked with investigating corruption and organized crime at the highest levels of government and society in

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

. Τhe legal basis of the entity is Article 148/dh of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and Law No. 95/2016 "On the organization and functioning of institutions for the fight against corruption and organized crime".

Organizational structure

National Bureau of Investigation () is a specialized unit of the Judicial Police responsible for investigating criminal offenses within the jurisdiction of the Special Prosecution, as defined by the Code of Criminal Procedure. The BKH consists of a director, investigators and Judicial Police services, all operating under the direct supervision of the Special Prosecution. Special Prosecution ( – PPKKO) is responsible for prosecuting cases and representing the state before the Special Courts. It oversees the enforcement of criminal decisions and carries out other legally mandated duties. Operating independently, the office is composed of special prosecutors appointed by the High Prosecution Council.

Special courts

First Instance

(), which is the successor of the Serious Crimes Court, is composed of 18 judges, of which 5 are permanent and 13 are temporary. It handles all cases brought forth by the Special Prosecution.

Second Instance / Appeal

() serves as the appellate body for cases adjudicated by the Special Court of First Instance.

High-profile cases

* Incinerator Scandal – In response to complaints from Democratic Party MPs, on October 2020, SPAK initiated a series of investigations into the construction and operation of incinerators throughout Albania. Several high-ranking officials have already been convicted in connection with the case, facing charges of corruption and abuse of power. * Fraud in a Public Tender for Sterilization Equipment – On August 2023, former Deputy Health Minister Klodjan Rrjepaj and Health Minister Ilir Beqaj, along with others, were arrested on charges of abuse of office, fraud and falsification of documents. The case involves a €100 million contract signed in 2015 for the sterilization of surgical equipment in public hospitals. According to SPAK, the tender process was manipulated to undermine fair competition, favoring businessman Ilir Rrapaj, who was also among those arrested. * Indictment of

Sali Berisha Sali Berisha (; born 15 October 1944) is an Albanian cardiologist and conservative politician who served as the president of Albania from 1992 to 1997 and as the 32nd Prime Minister of Albania, prime minister of Albania from 2005 to 2013. Berisha ...

– On October 2023, SPAK launched an investigation into former President Sali Berisha over allegations of abuse of power. In December of that year, he was placed under house arrest for failing to comply with a court order requiring him to report to the police every two weeks. In September 2024, Berisha was formally charged with passive corruption, accused of using his influence as prime minister (2005–2009) to benefit his son-in-law in the privatization of state land in Tirana. Both Berisha and the Democratic Party have repeatedly denounced the charges, accusing the Rama government of violating the constitution and using “Stalinist measures” to suppress political opposition. * Arrest of Evis Berberi – On March 2024, Evis Berberi, former Director General of the Albanian Road Authority, was arrested on charges of accepting bribes from companies that were awarded public contracts. According to SPAK, he is suspected of benefiting from approximately €2 million, allegedly invested in real estate through a company he established to evade detection. * Dismantling of an Organized Crime Gang – On August 2024, the

Albanian State Police The Albanian State Police () is the national police and largest law enforcement agency which operates throughout the Albania, Republic of Albania, ensuring the safety of citizens, keeping the public order, and serving the people anytime anywhere ...

arrested 15 members of an organized crime gang during a series of coordinated raids in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

. The operation was carried out with support from

Europol Europol, officially the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, is the law enforcement agency of the European Union (EU). Established in 1998, it is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and serves as the central hub for coordinating c ...

and authorities in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

, who provided key intelligence to identify the suspects. The gang operated on an international scale, engaging in contract killings, drug trafficking and money laundering through cryptocurrency transactions. * Arrest of

Ilir Meta Ilir Rexhep Meta (; born 24 March 1969) is an Albanian former politician who served as President of Albania from 2017 to 2022. Previously Meta served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and he was Speaker of the Parliament of Albania from 2013 ...

– On October 21, 2024, former President of Albania

was arrested on charges of money laundering, passive corruption, non-declaration and concealment of assets. His party, the Freedom Party (PL), denounced the arrest as political persecution aimed at silencing the opposition. This marks the most high-profile corruption case since the establishment of SPAK, making Meta the second opposition leader to be detained, following

, who until recently remained under house arrest. * Arrest of

Erion Veliaj Erion Veliaj (born December 17, 1979) is an Albanian politician who has served as the 42nd mayor of Tirana since 2015. Beginning as an activist and the leader of MJAFT!, Veliaj joined the ranks of the Socialist Party of Albania in 2011, where h ...

– Incumbent mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, was arrested on February 11, 2025, on charges of corruption and money laundering. Veliaj is accused of running a complex scheme involving bribes and money laundering through a network of NGOs and companies controlled by his wife and brother. His wife, Ajola Xoxa, was initially placed under house arrest on similar charges.

References