State Police (Albania)
The State Police is the national police and largest law enforcement agency of the Republic of Albania. This agency is responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens, keeping the public order, and serving the people anytime anywhere. The Albanian Police emergency number is 129, or 112 for general emergency services.
History
The original Albanian Police was founded on 13 January 1913 by the government of Ismail Qemali, Albania's first prime minister.The collapse of the Communist system and the establishment of political pluralism post-1991 brought important changes to the structure of the Albanian Police. The Ministry of Public Order and the General Directorate of Police were established in April 1991, and the new law of July 1991 established the Public Order Police. Nearly 80% of police manpower, i.e. personnel who had served under the previous system, were replaced by new recruits.
On 4 November 1991, the Albanian Police was accepted as a member of Interpol.
The crisis of 1997
Following the collapse of the Albanian economy in January–February 1997 in the wake of the implosion of the Ponzi pyramid banking schemes promoted by the government, increasing insurgency in early March led to the Police and Republican Guard deserting en masse because it became clear they were unlikely to be paid, leaving their armouries unlocked, which were promptly looted by parties unknown, believed to mostly have been the local crime bodies and self-appointed militias: many of the weapons eventually surfaced in the ethnic fighting in Kosovo.The resulting anarchy led a number of nations to use military forces to evacuate citizens, culminating in the UN authorising Operation Alba, a short-term military stabilisation force led by the Italian Army, tasked with facilitating the repatriation of foreigners and laying the foundations for another International Organisation to undertake the longer-term stabilisation. The political debate eventually settled in Europe within the body responsible for the defence diplomatic coordination of the Continent, the Council of the Western European Union. In a 2-hour meeting which convened at 1400 hrs on 2 May 1997, the WEU Council decided on the immediate establishment of the Multinational Advisory Police Element, sending a pathfinder officer, a Norwegian Police Colonel, the same evening.
The Italian force in Operation Alba predicated the Command structure of MAPE passing into the Italian Carabinieri, General Pietro Pistolese, previously commanding the Genoa region, bringing his team with him. Four phases followed, assessment, reconstruction, support of the Albanian Police control during the Kosovo Crisis, and finally build-down and handback in early 2001, which was somewhat accelerated ahead of the transfer of the WEU's operational responsibilities to the Council of the EU on 30 June 2001. The reconstruction principally involved the reconstruction of the Judicial system and the training of Police, but the Finance section also accommodated economic specialists acting as the principal feedback into the correction of the Judicial system. The Command Team later formed the core of the European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah from 2005 onwards.
Public perception
According to the 2025 National Police Satisfaction Survey conducted by the Institute for Development, Research, and Alternatives in partnership with the Swedish government “Strengthening Community Policing in Albania” program, Albanians’ perception of the police was as follows:- Public Safety: 82% of respondents reported feeling “safe” or “very safe” when walking alone in their neighborhood after dark.
- Property Crime Concerns: 69% of respondents reported rarely worrying about home burglaries.
- Police Performance Rating: 65% of respondents rated the State Police as performing “good” or “very good,” while 8% rated them as “poor.”
- Treatment by Police: 67% of respondents believe police often or very often treat citizens with respect, while approximately one-third feel that respect is rarely shown.
Recent developments
From 2014 to 2016, the Albanian State Police conducted several operations in criminally active regions, such as Lazarat, to restore public confidence and encourage support for law enforcement actions. In June 2014, approximately 800 police officers raided Lazarat, a village notorious for large-scale cannabis cultivation, seizing over 10 tonnes of marijuana.During this period, body cameras became an integral tool for the police, extensively used in drug busts and high-profile operations. In February 2016, body cameras were installed on police uniforms to improve police behavior and deter bribery. However, the initiative to use body cameras began to decline due to high operating and maintenance costs, as well as time constraints, ultimately leading to their discontinuation for field policemen.
In response to ongoing challenges, the Ministry of Interior introduced the Public Order Strategy 2015–2020, accompanied by the Action Plan 2015–2017. This comprehensive strategy aimed to modernize the Albanian State Police and align it with European Union standards. Key objectives included enhancing transparency and accountability, improving infrastructure, integrating advanced technologies into police operations, and building partnerships between the police and the public through community policing initiatives.
File:Policia Kufitare Rinas.jpg|thumb|260x260px|Border & Migration Police Officers, at Tirana International Airport. The two Officers on the left, are the Chief of the Police Commissariat of the Airport and the Deputy Chief.
The 2020s marked significant advancements in the operations of the Albanian State Police, particularly in tourism management. Between 2022 and 2024, the Border & Migration Department, especially the Border & Migration Police Team stationed at Tirana International Airport, effectively managed a yearly influx of 7 to 12 million passengers entering the country. This accomplishment highlighted the department’s efficiency and contribution to Albania’s growing tourism sector.
As part of the draft law, there are plans to integrate artificial intelligence into police operations: installing intelligent camera systems across about 20 cities and along the coastline, aiming for continuous territorial control 24/7. Also changes are proposed to how police leadership is appointed—more transparency and oversight.
About regular operations, for example in January 2025 saw 121 operations, 19 international, large seizures. Then in May 2025 the State Police carried out 99 operations targeting organized crime; over 600 arrests, and international operations to capture high-risk individuals. Lastly, inn August 2025 there were about 90 police operations with ~664 people arrested for various crimes.
Significant Arrests since 2020s
The arrest of Former President of Albania Ilir Meta in October 2024, who was apprehended by DPFO Operatives on orders from SPAK, in the middle of the street, dragged outside of his vehicle and then escorted back to the police commissariat. He was arrested on allegations of corruption, money laundering, hiding assets / failing to declare property and income. He is a significant political figure, since he is in the opposition.The arrest of Former Prime Minister of Albania and opposition leader Sali Berisha in December 2023, on orders from SPAK, put on house arrest after Parliament of Albania removed his immunity, on charges for passive corruption and abuse of office related to helping his son-in-law in a privatization deal in Tirana. On November 2024, he was released from house arrest, though SPAK appealed. Berisha denies the charges, calling them politically motivated.
The arrest of Former Environment Minister Lefter Koka in December 2021, accused of abuse of office, corruption, money laundering in connection with a concession contract for an incinerator in Elbasan; accused of accepting bribes up to €3.7 million.
The arrest of Former Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj in February 2025, on orders from SPAK, apprehended by the State Police at his residence. He faces charges of passive corruption, money laundering, and concealment of assets, linked to the controversial Tirana incinerator project. Veliaj remains in custody while his legal team appeals, and Deputy Mayor Anuela Ristani serves as acting mayor.
The arrest of Former Mayor of Himara Fredi Beleris in March 2024, on orders from SPAK, he was sentenced to two years in prison for vote-buying during the 2023 mayoral election.
The arrest of Former Mayor of Durres Vangjush Dako in June 2023 and 8 other officials of the Municipality of Durres, on orders from SPAK, on charges for abuse of power related to unauthorized construction and inflating project costs, leading to significant financial losses.
The arrest of the "Belgian Most Wanted", also known as Safet Rustemi, considered one of Belgium's most dangerous criminals, Rustemi was involved in several assassinations in Albania and attempted to control prostitution rings in Brussels using violence.
The arrest of Edmond “Edi” Dodaj, an International Drug Trafficker. Dodaj was a fugitive for nearly a decade. He led a network responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine from the Netherlands to Italy. He was apprehended by RENEA operatives following a European arrest warrant issued by Italian authorities.
The arrest of Shkodra's strongman Safet Bajri on February 2025, apprehended by RENEA operatives on orders from SPAK, he was charged with being linked to organized crime activities, including drug trafficking and violent offenses such as the involvement in the 2018 murder of Fatbardh Lici in Shkodra.
The arrest of "The Gambling King" Ervis Martinaj in October 2018, after he was implicated in a deadly shooting in the former Bllok area of Tirana, resulting in the death of Fabian Gaxha. Martinaj was arrested but later released on bail due to insufficient evidence. In 2022, Martinaj went missing under mysterious circumstances. His whereabouts remain unknown, and he is considered a fugitive by Albanian authorities and has an Active Warrant for his arrest.
The arrest of three Internationally Wanted Albanian Criminals. Emirjan Beu, Syrjan Tola, Dorian Beu, all of them were arrested as part of "Operation Highway" which saw the dismantling of an international drug-trafficking criminal group. This also led to the seizure of their assets in Albania estimated to be over €1 million.
The arrest of over 200 Suspects as part of the Operation to counter the drug distribution near schools, led to the large seizures of narcotics of various types, showing public safety concern especially near schools.