Albania’s Chief Special Prosecutor against Corruption and Organized Crime, Altin Dumani, delivered a powerful and direct speech before Parliament, unveiling SPAK’s 2024 annual report. His address highlighted the institution’s achievements against corruption and organized crime — while exposing the deep political and criminal pressures threatening judicial independence.
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| Altin Dumani in his Speech in Parliament |
Major Anti-Corruption Results in 2024
According to Dumani, SPAK seized and confiscated assets worth €65.5 million during 2024, a 34% increase compared with the previous year. These assets, he said, were suspected to have been obtained through money laundering, drug trafficking, and corruption schemes across construction and tourism sectors.
Four luxury hotels were already confiscated, while several construction companies remain under investigation.
Dumani emphasized that SPAK has launched investigations even in the cryptocurrency sector, revealing that Albania’s financial crime landscape is expanding into digital channels.
“The fight against organized crime and corruption is not only a legal duty — it is a moral and institutional commitment that requires strength, trust, and perseverance,” Dumani declared before MPs.
Collaboration with International Partners
The SPAK chief noted that cooperation with FBI, DEA, and Eurojust has reached “an unprecedented level of trust.”
“With the FBI and DEA, we have a barrier-free collaboration — something that is earned only through evidence and institutional credibility,” he said.
He also detailed that SPAK is coordinating joint investigations with Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, focusing on transnational drug trafficking — particularly cocaine routes connecting the Balkans to Western Europe.
Criminal and Political Pressure on SPAK
While outlining SPAK’s success, Dumani warned of growing external pressures on prosecutors from both political actors and criminal groups.
“SPAK continues to face external pressure from political, media, and organized crime actors, which threatens the institutional integrity and independence of prosecutors,” Dumani stated.
“This concern demands a coordinated institutional response to protect the constitutional independence of SPAK.”
He further noted that the uncertain legal status of prosecutors after the end of their 9-year term creates instability and jeopardizes ongoing investigations.
High-Profile Cases and Ongoing Investigations
SPAK’s 2024 report confirms that 33 former senior officials were under investigation for corruption, 19 sent to court, and 10 received final convictions.
The institution has handled 6094 court sessions during 2024 and issued 79 final criminal decisions, including 162 prison sentences.
Dumani also addressed parliamentary questions regarding ongoing cases — notably the incinerator scandals in Fier, Elbasan, and Tirana, involving former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, who remains under international search.
“If Mr. Ahmetaj wants to cooperate with justice, he is welcome,” Dumani stated, adding that cooperation with defendants remains open under SPAK’s legal framework.
When asked whether SPAK would pursue Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj, Dumani clarified that investigations are still ongoing and no procedural act has been finalized yet.
Organized Crime Across Borders
Dumani confirmed that Albanian organized crime groups cooperate with Serbian and Montenegrin networks, especially in cocaine trafficking.
He announced ongoing joint investigative teams and parallel operations in the region aimed at dismantling cross-border criminal structures.
“The best way to fight organized crime is through cooperation,” he stressed, citing successful cases with Montenegro and Kosovo.
International Recognition and Transparency
Dumani proudly mentioned that SPAK’s efforts have been recognized by both the European Commission and the U.S. Department of State.
According to the 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, SPAK’s investigations have strengthened Albania’s role in the regional fight against transnational crime.
He added that Albania improved its Transparency International Corruption Perception Index by five points in 2024, largely due to SPAK’s concrete results and asset confiscations.
Conclusion: Between Progress and Pressure
Altin Dumani’s speech marked one of the most significant addresses in recent years before Parliament. While numbers show progress, the political climate remains tense. His remarks reflect an institution determined to fight corruption at every level — yet continuously under attack by those it investigates.
“I will not surrender to pressure,” Dumani concluded. “I will continue to serve as a prosecutor of the Republic of Albania, even after my mandate ends, if God gives me life.”
SPAK’s mission, Dumani said, is far from complete. But 2024 proves that when independence and courage meet, corruption can indeed be confronted — even in a system where crime and politics often walk hand in hand.