Six police cars and dozens of officers, accompanied by officials from the National Inspectorate of Territorial Protection (IKMT), landed this morning in the Sauk area, about four kilometers from the center of Tirana.
Police officers surrounded the perimeter of the area, while IKMT employees searched the premises of three armored buildings, which are suspected of being built illegally.
Forces of the National Inspectorate of Territorial Protection began the demolition of several villas, which according to the police were built without permission.
According to official data, 14 people are under investigation, including IKMT officials, engineers, architects and administrators of private entities, who are suspected of being involved in the construction of these buildings.
From the investigations so far, five inspectors of the Tirana IMT have been arrested, while three others are wanted. Another IMT employee is being investigated for abuse of office.
The operation, led by specialists from the Economic and Financial Crimes Investigation Section, identified three cases of illegal construction in the residential area of Sauk and led to the arrest of two other people, including the technical manager and the building engineer.
Meanwhile, two co-administrators and the architect of one of the entities have been declared wanted.
Police announce that the search for six other people continues and evidence is being collected on how construction permits were issued on public land in violation of the law.
On the other hand, the construction company “Austrian Construction Albania” sh.pk has opposed the demolition decision, claiming that the constructions owned by Vladimir Kosta, Dhurata Bogdani, Shpëtim and Enver Gjuzi were carried out after receiving permission from the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, on April 23, 2021.
According to documents registered with the Municipality of Tirana, the permit included the construction of a residential complex with three-story villas above ground and two underground floors, including 555.8 square meters for social housing, with a completion period of 48 months, which ended in April 2025.
Meanwhile, of the 33 planned villas, 31 have been built, while two others remain pending. The company’s legal representatives warn of appealing the demolition decision, arguing that every procedure was carried out “in accordance with municipal authorizations.”
Data provided by “shteg.org” shows that in the Tirana region, during the period 2016–2024, five construction permits were granted for multifunctional facilities, including hotels and resorts.
According to data from “shteg.org”, over the last 12 years, the volume of construction based on granted permits has reached 12.3 million square meters, of which 9.2 million, or 75%, have benefited from the Tirana region alone.
The Tirana Prosecution Office announces that over the last 10 years, 1,457 criminal proceedings for illegal construction have been registered.
Constructions without regular permits have revealed a wide-ranging scheme of abuse and corruption, resulting in the involvement of public officials in high levels of corruption.
Eriselda është gazetare në “Rrjetin e Raportimit të Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri” (RRKOKSH). Ajo ka përfunduar studimet universitare në nivel bachelor në Fushën e Gazetarisë dhe Shkencave të Komunikimit, pranë Fakultetit të Historisë dhe Filologjisë, Universiteti i Tiranës.
Me përkushtim ndaj gazetarisë hulumtuese, Eriselda fokusohet kryesisht tek çështjet që lidhen me korrupsionin, krimin e organizuar dhe transparencën institucionale.
