Crime for 2025/ Olsjan Çela reports on laws, from corruption to money laundering

2026-06-15 13:11:00, Aktualitet CNA

Crime for 2025/ Olsjan Çela reports on laws, from corruption to money

Prosecutor Olsjan Çela stated in the Laws Committee during the 2025 crime report that the Prosecutor's Offices of general jurisdiction have marked an increase in investigative activity during 2025, handling 66,397 materials under review, or 8.55% more than the previous year. The data was made public in the annual report of the Prosecutor General "On the state of crime for 2025".

According to the report, 50,121 criminal proceedings were pursued last year, with an increase of 5.35% compared to 2024. Of these, 27,077 are new proceedings registered, while 22,860 are proceedings carried over from previous years.

In the field of corruption and criminal offences related to duty, 625 criminal proceedings have been registered. Prosecutors have increased their active role in investigating these offences, initiating 20 proceedings in the main proceedings and conducting proactive investigations in 24 cases. In addition, 182 proceedings with 368 defendants have been sent for trial.

The report also highlights progress in the fight against money laundering. The number of proceedings sent to trial has increased by 35.29%, while the number of defendants sent to court has increased by 24.24% compared to 2024.

Significant results have also been recorded in property investigations. During 2025, 210 property verifications were registered, while the courts have ordered the confiscation of criminal assets in 12 cases and the seizure of assets in 29 cases. The total value of seized assets amounts to around 4.057 billion lek, while that of confiscated assets amounts to around 305 million lek.

In total, during 2025, 10,903 defendants were convicted, or 9% more than the previous year, while only 375 people were acquitted.

Full report by Olsjan Çela

I. Preliminary investigation indicators, their weight and trends

During 2025, the prosecution body handled 66,397 materials under review, which constitutes an increase of 8.55% compared to 2024. A total of 50,121 criminal proceedings were pursued, which constitutes an increase of 5.35% compared to 2024, of which: 27,077 are registered criminal proceedings, with an increase of 8.50% compared to 2024; 22,860 are criminal proceedings carried over, with an increase of 1.87% compared to 2024 and 184 are criminal proceedings resumed. A decision was made not to initiate 16,276 criminal referrals and reports, which constitutes an increase of almost 20% compared to 2024.

Even in 2025, the largest number of proceedings was registered by the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance with General Jurisdiction in Tirana with 36.62% of the total number of proceedings registered nationwide; followed by the prosecutor's offices of Durrës 9.51%; Korçë 7.48%; Shkodër 7.31%; Fier 7.08%; Vlorë 7.01%; Elbasan 5.59%; Lezhë 4.99%; Sarandë 4.23%; Gjirokastër 2.86%; Berat 2.50%; Kukës 2.45%; Dibër 2.38% of the total number of criminal proceedings registered nationwide.

The crime rate for registered criminal proceedings per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025 is 1145, while in 2024 the crime rate was 1037.

Regarding the ratio between crimes and misdemeanors, based on 2025 statistics, it results that 76% of criminal proceedings belong to crimes and 24% belong to criminal misdemeanors.

Regarding the ratio of groups of offenses to the total number of proceedings and criminality trends, among the groups of offenses with the highest number of proceedings registered by the prosecution are criminal offenses against public order and security, with 33% of the total number of criminal proceedings registered for 2025 and an increase of 13% compared to 2024. Next, theft of property constitutes 21% of the total number of criminal proceedings registered and results in a decrease of about 2%; criminal offenses against children, marriage and family constitute 7% and have increased by 2%; criminal offenses that violate the legal regime of land constitute 8% and have increased by 51%; criminal offenses against the destruction of property constitute 3% and have decreased by 12%, and criminal offenses against health committed intentionally constitute about 3% of the total number of proceedings registered in the prosecution during 2025 and have increased by 5%.

II. EFFICIENCY IN COMPLETION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS AND COURT CLAIMS

1. Efficiency in investigations, preliminary investigations and criminal prosecution

During 2025, 24,491 cases were completed, of which: 42.46% were sent for trial (10,399 cases with charges against 12,249 defendants), 27.58% were dismissed, 27.78% were suspended and 2.18% were transferred to the competent prosecution offices.

Janë paraqitur në gjykatë 13904 kërkesa lidhur me masat e sigurimit personal. Të dhënat statistikore për caktimin e masave të sigurimit shtrënguese për vitin 2025 tregojnë se, për 59,31 % të të pandehurve të regjistruar (34,99 % të personave në hetim) është kërkuar caktimi i një mase sigurimi shtrënguese. Ndërkohë, rezulton se 56 % e kërkesave, lidhet me caktimin e një mase sigurimi me arrest, masa këto të kërkuara për 33,25 % të të pandehurve të regjistruar (19,56 % të personave në hetim). Ndërkohë që në vitin 2024, për pothuaj 60 % të të pandehurve të regjistruar (gati 34 % të personave në hetim) është kërkuar caktimi i një mase sigurimi shtrënguese. Ndërkohë, rezulton se 59,51 % e kërkesave, lidhet me caktimin e një mase sigurimi me arrest, masa këto të kërkuara për 35,69 % të të pandehurve të regjistruar (20,21 % të personave në hetim).

Sa i përket kërkesave për miratim të urdhrit penal, vazhdoi një tendencë në ulje, me vetëm 83 të tilla, dhe po në ulje rezultojnë kërkesat për miratimin e marrëveshjeve të fajësisë me 144 kërkesa, ndërsa gjykimi i drejtpërdrejtë, rezulton në rritje me 519 çështje.

2. Eficienca në kërkesat për gjykim dhe përfaqësimin e çështjes/akuzës në gjykatë

Gjatë vitit 2025 nga prokuroritë pranë gjykatës të shkallës së parë është ngritur dhe përfaqësuar akuza në gjykatë në emër të shtetit shqiptar për 10423 procedime penale me 12273 të pandehur.

Në lidhje me vendimet e gjykatës, nga të dhënat statistikore rezulton se në vitin 2025 janë dënuar 10903 të pandehur që krahasuar me vitin 2024 përbën rritje rritje 9 % të numrit të pandehurve të dënuar dhe për 375 të pandehur është dhënë vendim për deklarimin të pafajshëm.

Nga të dhënat statistikore rezulton se në vitin 2025 urdhrat për ekzekutimin e vendimeve gjyqësore penale të formës së prerë të dënimeve kryesore me burgim, gjobë dhe dënime plotësuese, zënë 37,45 % të totalit të urdhrave për ekzekutim të lëshuara nga prokurori, ndërsa urdhrat për ekzekutim të dënimeve alternative zënë 62,55 % të totalit të urdhrave për ekzekutim të lëshuara nga prokurori. Krahasuar me vitin 2024, urdhrat e ekzekutimit për dënimet me burgim të përjetshëm, me burgim, me gjobë dhe dënime plotësuese kanë pësuar një ulje prej 1,37 %, ndërsa ato për dënimet alternative kanë pësuar një rritje prej 19,66 %.

Gjatë vitit 2025 janë ekzekutuar 5083 vendime, ndërsa kanë mbetur pa u ekzekutuar 1230 vendime. Numri i vendimeve të mbetura pa ekzekutuar sipas llojit të tyre është: 331 vendime me burgim, 149 vendime për dënime me gjobë, 5 dënime plotësuese dhe 745 dënime alternative.

3. Efektiviteti i ndjekjes penale për disa grupvepra penale me tendencë në rritje ose në ulje sipas shtrirjes gjeografike, në vitin 2025

It is evident that in 2025, 161 criminal proceedings were initiated primarily, which constitutes an increase of 3.87% of the number of proceedings initiated primarily compared to 2024. The largest weight in these cases is made up of criminal offenses against property and in the economic sphere 42.24%, criminal offenses against public order and security, 21.12%; criminal offenses against state activity committed by state employees or in public service, 14.28% of the total, and criminal offenses affecting free elections and the democratic electoral system 6.21%. The increase in the number of cases initiated primarily is a continuous request, which, although not yet at the appropriate level, has always increased from year to year. One of the main reasons continues to be the overload that limits prosecutors in exercising this legal discretion.

Prosecutors in the prosecution offices of general jurisdiction, in cooperation with the judicial police services of the State Police and law enforcement agencies, have conducted proactive investigations and/or with the use of special investigative tools, in the framework of 356 criminal proceedings in 2025. This process has served both to prevent and/or further interrupt criminal activity, as well as to strike/finalize with the arrest in flagrante delicto or detention of 236 persons suspected of committing criminal offenses within the competence of the prosecution offices of the courts of first instance with general jurisdiction.

In total, 822 court-authorized interception decisions in preliminary investigations and 406 prosecutorial authorizations and orders were executed during 2025. As a result, interception was enabled for 1,771 terminal devices used by 1,642 persons suspected of being involved in criminal offenses.

The comprehensive investigation conducted by prosecutors of prosecution offices with general jurisdiction within the framework of the investigation and criminal prosecution for offenses within their subject matter competence, as well as the evaluation of data/evidence obtained from the use of special investigative tools, has led to the discovery of criminal offenses committed within the framework of organized crime and criminal offenses of corruption, within the subject matter competence of the Special Prosecution Office. Statistical data show that for the year 2025, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code and the Institutional Coordination Act, dated 15.12.2020 "On increasing efficiency through the coordination of the General Prosecutor's Office with the Special Prosecutor's Office", the prosecutor's offices of general jurisdiction have transferred 56 criminal proceedings/referrals, of which 41 proceedings/referrals for a group of offenses against organized crime and corruption or related to the duty, within the subject matter competence of that prosecutor's office, were received by the Special Prosecutor's Office.

3.2 Referring to statistical data for 2025, for the criminal offenses of corruption and those related to the duty under the competence of general jurisdiction, 625 proceedings were registered with 155 defendants and 182 proceedings with 368 defendants were sent for trial.

Prosecutors have increased their active role in corruption and duty-related criminal offenses, initiating mainly 20 criminal proceedings and conducting proactive investigations, in 24 criminal proceedings. This process has served both to prevent and/or further disrupt criminal activity, as well as to crack down/finalize with the arrest in flagrante delicto or detention of 6 persons suspected of committing criminal offenses under the jurisdiction of the prosecutors' offices at the courts of first instance with general jurisdiction.

3.3 Statistical data for 2025 show progress in all indicators of criminal prosecution for money laundering offenses, with the result that the number of proceedings sent for trial has increased by 35.29% and the number of defendants sent for trial has increased by 24.24%.

3.4 In accordance with Article 3/1 et seq. of Law No. 10192, dated 03.12.2009 “On the prevention and suppression of organized crime, trafficking, corruption and other crimes, through preventive measures against property”, in the framework of property proceedings/investigations, for the year 2025, 210 property verifications have been registered in the prosecutors' offices with general jurisdiction. Meanwhile, in the framework of the investigation and prosecution for the criminal offense “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity” under Article 287 of the Criminal Code and in accordance with Article 36 of the Criminal Code and Articles 274 and/or 210, 190 et seq. of the Code of Criminal Procedure and in accordance with Law No. 10192/2009, following the requests of the prosecutors, the court decided on the confiscation of criminal assets in total, within the framework of 12 cases and the seizure of criminal assets in the framework of 29 cases.

The seized assets have been of relatively large value, with the total value of seized assets reaching around 4,057,000,000 lek and of confiscated assets around 305,000,000 lek.

3.5 Referring to statistical data, for the criminal offense "Domestic Violence", provided for by Article 130/ai of the Criminal Code, there is an increasing trend for the year 2025, as 1683 criminal proceedings were registered, with 1089 defendants or an increase of 1.63% of proceedings and a decrease of 12.04% of defendants registered compared to 2024. 1168 proceedings were sent for trial with 1246 defendants, or an increase of 3.91% of proceedings and an increase of 4.36% of defendants sent for trial, compared to 2024.

The effectiveness of criminal prosecution in conducting investigations and prosecution for the criminal offense of domestic violence in 2025 is high, with evidence that we have an increase of 3.91% of proceedings sent for trial compared to 2024, while the ratio of cases sent to court is much higher compared to those dismissed (80.05% sent to court and 19.95% dismissed).

Regarding the tightening of the criminal policy for the criminal offense of "Domestic Violence" provided for by Article 130/ai of the Criminal Code, statistical data show that the prosecutor's requests regarding security measures for persons who have committed this offense are severe, with 91.04% being requests for security measures with arrest, which represents an increase compared to 2024 where requests for arrest were at the rate of 88.86%. Regarding the requests for determining the sentence, for defendants accused of this criminal offense, it results that 62.45% of the requests are for determining a prison sentence and 37.55% of the requests are for determining alternatives to a prison sentence.

3.6 For criminal offenses that violate free elections and the democratic electoral system, according to statistical data for 2025, it results that 68 criminal proceedings and 15 defendants have been registered and 14 criminal proceedings with 30 defendants have been sent for trial. Meanwhile, 7 defendants have been convicted by the court. The highest weight in these proceedings is occupied by the criminal offense provided for in Article 328/ai of the Criminal Code “Use of public office for political or electoral activity”, for which 17 criminal proceedings or 25% have been registered, and the criminal offense provided for in Article 327 “Violation of the secrecy of voting”, for which 17 criminal proceedings or 25% of the total number of proceedings registered for this group of offenses.

III. International cooperation

The General Prosecutor's Office has continued its work to increase the efficiency of cooperation with foreign judicial authorities in the criminal field. In this context, a new agreement has been signed between the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Albania and the High State Prosecutor's Office of Montenegro.

The main data on international judicial cooperation administered in the IMPRO electronic system for 2025 show an increase in the number of extraditions from Albania abroad by 28% (from 137 to 176), an increase in the number of letters rogatory abroad by 24% (from 539 to 723), where it is worth noting that despite the difficulties we have encountered due to the significant vacancies in the staff, the percentage of execution of letters rogatory by our side is 46% compared to 24% of those executed by foreign authorities, which indicates the priority that international cooperation has had for the prosecution.

The Prosecutor General, in his capacity as the representative of the competent authority, has continued the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement with Eurojust, through the activity of the Liaison Prosecutor of Albania at Eurojust. According to data from the Albanian Liaison Prosecutor's Office at Eurojust, in 2025, over 311 cases involving Albania were investigated. The Albanian Office at Eurojust continues to support 27 joint investigation teams, 5 of which were established during 2025. The Albanian authorities have organized 3 coordination meetings and have participated in 24 such meetings as guests.

IV. Decriminalization

During 2025, the Decriminalization Sector followed the process of in-depth verification of self-declared data in the form, in accordance with Law No. 138/2015, for 121 entities. Out of 73 new requests, during 2025, 65 processes for in-depth verification were registered in accordance with Law No. 138/2015. These processes, according to the competent bodies that have requested in-depth verification of self-declared data in the forms by entities, for 2025, belong to 48 requests made by the Department of Public Administration and 17 made by the Central Election Commission. During 2025, 77 processes for in-depth verification were completed, of which 44 decisions are processes registered during 2025 and 33 decisions are processes carried over from 2020 - 2024.

Of the cases for which the in-depth verification process was completed in 2025 and the result approved, based on articles 69, 74 and 76 of the Criminal Procedure Code, for 20 persons, the material was transferred to the relevant prosecutor's offices for competence, as suspects for the criminal offense of "Forgery of seals, stamps or forms", provided for by article 190 of the Criminal Code. The persons who were found to have filled out the self-declaration form with false data, belong to the verification requests received as follows:

- 14 from the Department of Public Administration;

- 6 from the Central Election Commission.

V. Improving infrastructure to increase efficiency in the prosecution service

During 2025, investments were completed in the Gjirokastër, Vlorë and Durrës prosecution offices, where the premises in these prosecution offices were expanded in accordance with the agreement with the Supreme Court of Justice and the Ministry of Justice, as well as the archival premises of the Elbasan Prosecution Office. In order to increase security, all buildings were equipped with metal detectors and security personnel, for which we were given support by this parliamentary committee with the 2026 budget.

The infrastructure situation in Tirana and Saranda remains very problematic, while with the completion of the organics, the situation in Durrës and Fier is expected to worsen. The situation in this regard appears quite complex in terms of a solution within a reasonable timeframe, despite the commitment of the government in the case of Tirana.

Meanwhile, work has continued normally on establishing the case management system in the prosecution, a process which is expected to be completed in 2028.

VI. Objectives 2026

With the aim of fulfilling the constitutional and legal mission of the prosecution, further increasing the effectiveness of criminal prosecution, the filing and representation of charges in court, as well as respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual in the criminal process, our institutional priorities are:

- Effectively and efficiently following up on recommendations in the fight against crime, focusing on the proper functioning and strengthening of the prosecution's capacities, as well as on institutional coordination and collaboration with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad, in the following areas:

i) increasing the effectiveness in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against the person and property, focusing on improving cooperation with the State Police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as the efficient use of technical and human resources;

ii) continuing the work initiated in the implementation of the memorandum of cooperation and general instruction no. 10/2020, to further increase the effectiveness of investigations, prosecution and representation of the charge in court for the criminal offenses of laundering the proceeds of crime, financial crimes and property investigations for the sequestration and confiscation of criminal assets, with a special focus on criminal offenses in the field of taxes and levies;

iii) continuing the coordination and efficient cooperation of the prosecutor's offices of general jurisdiction with the Special Prosecutor's Office, in terms of the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses in the field of corruption and organized crime;

iv) continuing to strengthen international cooperation with counterpart authorities and international organizations, in order to fulfill the obligations of the European integration process and the recommendations of Moneyval and FATF, to increase the effectiveness in the investigation and prosecution of cross-border crime, through the exchange of information, the use of international legal assistance instruments, the development of joint investigations and approximation with international best practices.

- Continuing work to strengthen institutional capacities to increase efficiency in investigative and administrative activities.

- Continue to further increase supervisory activity for the implementation of mandatory general instructions and cooperation with the High Inspector of Justice and the High Prosecutorial Council in terms of coordinating activities, exchanging information, identifying disciplinary or ethical violations and performance problems of prosecutorial offices.

- Continue to further increase the efficiency of coordination and collaboration with the Judicial Police Commission and the law enforcement agencies involved, to strengthen the professional capacities of judicial police officers in the relevant structures of judicial police services and sections.

- Continue to ensure cooperation in the creation of the new case management system.

- Continue to supplement/update the sub-legal framework with the aim of improving criminal investigation and prosecution, guaranteeing respect for human rights in the criminal process and harmonizing it with best European and international practices, as well as reflecting the needs of the work of prosecutors.

- Improving the management of internal work organization, with the aim of reducing overload, increasing efficiency in handling cases and ensuring a balanced distribution of workload among prosecutors, also relying on the use of technology and the digitalization of processes.

- Increasing cooperation and transparency in relations with the public and the media, in order to inform the public, strengthen trust in the prosecution and encourage crime reporting.

- Continuing engagement within the framework of the European Union integration process by fulfilling institutional obligations in the fight against crime and respecting human rights./ CNA