Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) carried out a surprise inspection in Durrës prison, targeting illegal items and high-profile detainees.
 |
| Illustration "AI" |
Prosecutors conducted extensive searches across multiple sectors of the prison as part of ongoing efforts to crack down on prohibited items inside correctional facilities in Albania. The operation included detailed inspections of specific cells housing prominent figures, including Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, former Health Minister Ilir Beqaj, and former Vlora prosecutor Aurel Zarka.
According to sources, no illegal items were found in the cells of these high-profile individuals, a detail that may ease public scrutiny surrounding their detention conditions. However, the operation did uncover a hidden mobile phone in a separate building within the prison, specifically concealed in a bathroom area.
Authorities have launched further investigations to determine the ownership of the device and whether it was used for unauthorized communication or linked to criminal activities within the prison system. The discovery highlights ongoing concerns about security breaches and the circulation of banned items inside Albania’s correctional institutions.
SPAK’s action reflects broader efforts to strengthen the rule of law and institutional control, key factors in Albania’s EU integration process and wider reforms across the Balkans.