Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime
The Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime is an independent judicial entity tasked with investigating corruption and organized crime at the highest levels of government and society in Albania. It was instituted through the passage of Article 148/dh of the Albanian constitution and the structure's organic law, both of which were the result of significant reforms of the country's justice system, brought forward in 2016 with cross-party support.
Organizational structure
National [Bureau of Investigation |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 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.Chairmen
The Chairman of SPAK is elected by the High Prosecutorial Council through an official voting process. Candidates must undergo public hearings where they present their vision, after which the members of the Council vote to elect the Chairman. The term of the Chairman is 3 years, and re-election for a consecutive term is not allowed.Altin Dumani served as Chairman of SPAK from 19 December 2022 to 18 December 2025. On 19 December 2025, he was succeeded by Klodjan Braho, who is the current Chairman.
Pre-trial Detention
SPAK's use of pre-trial detention is controversial because it is part of a systemic national practice where 62% of Albania's prison population is jailed while awaiting trial, a rate far higher than in other European countries. The 2024 U.S. State Department report recently challenged these practices, highlighting concerns over questioning suspects without lawyers and the use of repeated investigation extensions. Critics argue this allows SPAK to hold individuals on spurious grounds for extended periods, as illustrated by Mayor Erion Veliaj's six-month detention before formal indictment. Reinforcing these concerns, activist lawyer Dorian Matlia recently leveraged a victory at the European Court of Human Rights – which ruled SPAK’s detention of Thoma Gëllçi illegal – to condemn what he describes as a "repressive justice" system that prioritizes televised arrests over human rights. This pattern of detention without charges has notably impacted high-profile figures such as Sali Berisha and former President Ilir Meta. Furthermore, some critics explicitly compare SPAK's methods to those of the Sigurimi, the country's communist-era secret police, implying its actions are politically repressive rather than purely judicial.High-profile cases
- Incinerators 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 – 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 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 arrested 15 members of an organized crime gang during a series of coordinated raids in Tirana. The operation was carried out with support from Europol and authorities in France and Belgium, 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 – On October 21, 2024, former President of Albania Ilir Meta was arrested on charges of money laundering, passive corruption, non-declaration and concealment of assets. His party, the Freedom Party , 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 Sali Berisha, who until recently remained under house arrest.
- Arrest of Erion Veliaj – Incumbent mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, was arrested on February 11, 2025, on charges of corruption and money laundering. Veliaj, the three-time elected Mayor of Tirana, was arrested by Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure in February 2025 following anonymous allegations of corruption, which he denies. He was held in pre-trial detention for more than five months without being formally charged or presented with evidence, denied access to his international legal counsel, and kept in custody pursuant to court decisions that critics argue did not meaningfully assess necessity, proportionality, or alternatives to detention; formal charges were eventually filed several months after his arrest, amid broader concerns about Albania’s extensive use of pre-trial detention.
- Indictment of Belinda Balluku - In November 2025, SPAK announced criminal charges against Balluku and several officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy in connection with the public tender for the Llogara Tunnel. According to the prosecutors’ filing, Signal messages recovered from the phone of Evis Berberi, then director of the Albanian Road Authority, allegedly showed Balluku discussing tender deadlines and bidder details. SPAK accuses the group of “creating unjust advantages” for the Turkish consortium Intekar Yapi & ASL Insaat in violation of Albania’s procurement laws. Balluku has denied any wrongdoing. On 20 November 2025, the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime ordered two security measures against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku: suspension from her governmental duties and a ban on leaving the country. Balluku had previously stated in parliament that she would not comment on ongoing investigations and had reaffirmed her support for the justice reform.
Controversies and Criticism
Pamfleti and the Facebook page Traktet sharpened these concerns by publishing a video of then-SPAK head Altin Dumani. The footage reveals Dumani socializing privately with individuals the outlet identified as having criminal records, including fraud convict Andon Pago. Critics condemned Dumani for drinking and singing at this informal gathering, asserting that he failed to maintain professional distance from criminal figures. Commentators highlighted that this occurred exactly when SPAK needed to take decisive action in sensitive matters, like the Irena Gjoka case, and they cited the episode as proof of the institution's questionable judgment. Even though investigators found no formal violations, the incident fueled public debate regarding SPAK’s conduct and deepened doubts about its impartiality.
Further scrutiny arose from the 2026 lawsuit filed by Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj against SPAK prosecutor Olsi Dado and the former Presidency of the Republic. Veliaj claimed that Dado’s 2008 appointment as a prosecutor violated legal requirements, as he had not completed magistrate school at the time. The lawsuit argued that all criminal proceedings and restrictions imposed on Veliaj were therefore based on an appointment “nul ab initio,” with significant consequences for his office and personal rights.