The State Police continues to face a deep crisis of credibility, as the number of employees involved in criminal incidents or arrested for violating the law continues to increase. In recent years, a significant number of officers have been implicated in illegal activities, prompting widespread public concern.
The most serious case is the mafia assassination in Rinas, where one of the victims was Muçi Shaljani, known by the nickname “Sheqeri”. Shaljani, although an employee of the Police Supervision Agency, was closely associated with Gilmando Dani, the right-hand man of Emiljano Shullazi. The two had traveled to Barcelona on November 7 and, immediately after returning, were shot with a volley as soon as they left the airport.
Another case that reveals the involvement of former officers in criminal activity is the placement of explosives in a business in Kamëz. The investigations resulted in Jeton Lami, a former officer of the Operational Unit and the person who helped in the escape of the "gambling king" Ervis Martinaj, as well as the last person who met him before his disappearance, being arrested during the police operation "Motivi". In collaboration with his cousin Ervis Lami and two other people, he is suspected of having exploded a bar in Kamëz with TNT, after the owner had not paid the fine of 500 thousand euros.
Previously, dozens of cases have been recorded where even senior police leaders have been arrested for collaborating with criminal structures. One of them is the former head of the Operational Police, Oltion Bistri, arrested by order of SPAK in July 2023. The prosecution seized 1 million euros of his assets, while in the "Metamorfoza" file, Bistri turns out to have continuously communicated with Pëllumb Gjoka, a businessman arrested for illegal gambling in Tirana.
According to the wiretaps in the SPAK file, Dedan Gjoni, the head of crimes at police station no. 6, arrested on November 21, 2023, served as an informant for people connected to the criminal world. Among them was Dritan Rexhepi, one of the most wanted in Albania and considered the "Albanian king of cocaine."
Another case is that of Dritan Metaj, the former head of the Kurbin police station, arrested on October 9, 2023 during a mega-operation conducted by SPAK. Metaj is suspected of transporting members of criminal groups, using his official position to move them without control. He turns out to have played a key role in drug trafficking, in the wake of the "Flame at Sea" operation. The investigations have revealed dozens of communications between Metaj, Gëzim Çela and two other wanted persons.
The case of Jaeld Çela, the former director of the Vlora Police, also remains among the most commented on. He surrendered in May 2020, after being investigated for drug trafficking and favoritism towards the Habilaj brothers' group during 2015-2016, at a time when Saimir Tahiri was the Minister of Interior.
The head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, has repeatedly raised concerns about the involvement of the police in criminal structures. However, his warnings seem to have fallen on deaf ears, as the government and the interior ministers have not only publicly opposed these statements, but have not taken concrete measures to clean up the police structure. We recall that today, the phone of the Director General of the Police, Ilir Proda, was seized by SPAK.
