One arrested as 44.000 undeclared EUR caught in Durres port
A 53-year-old man was arrested by the police after he was caught with 44.000 undeclared euros in the port of Durres. Police announced that 53-year-old Nuri Alushi had hidden the money inside the van-type vehicle of the Vlora-Italy route that he was driving, in order to avoid declaring it at …
Balla meeting with the Italian ambassador: Strategic cooperation with the Italian law enforcement structures
The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, held a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, with whom he discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of security and law enforcement. In the meeting, Italy’s support for Albania was confirmed regarding the numerous projects and programs related …
Vacationer taken to Tirana by helicopter after heart problems
A vacationer suffered a heart crisis in Pogradec this Wednesday morning. It is about a 74-year-old man, who went to the hospital himself. But the doctors, seeing the serious condition, recommended the transfer to Tirana. Afterwards, the elderly man was transported by helicopter to Tirana, where he will receive specialized …
Tirana young man arrested on drugs charges
A 30-year-old man has been arrested this Wednesday by Tirana police on drugs charges, while a 35-year-old man was declared wanted as an accomplice to the arrested man. After a search, the police found in possession of Gentjan Demir a package of cannabis, weighing about 1 kg and 600 grams, …
“Strengthening judicial is the ticket to membership”, EU ambassador: You have a lot of work to do
The Ambassador of the European Union to Albania, Christiane Hohmann, this Wednesday in her speech at the National Council of European Integration said that Albania is on the right track and hopes that in December the answer will be positive. Among other things, Hohmann stated in her speech that Albania …
Balluku: We aim to make the country an example for renewable energy not only in Balkans
The deputy Prime Minister, also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Ballaku is in New York where she is participating in the high level political meeting in the United Nations. In her speech, Balluku stated that in this meeting the focus was on the summit that will take place in …
Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime control on Arben Ahmetaj’s properties
In the framework of the investigations it is conducting against the former deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, GJKKO( Special Courts against Corruption and Organised Crime) has executed several control orders in the 4 apartments of the former minister Arben Ahmetaj and his family members. Journalist Ermal Vija reports for ABC …
Arrested for abuse of duty, the Court doesn’t change the security measure for former mayor of Durres
The Court of Special Appeal has approved the decision of the first instance, leaving in force the measure of prison arrest against the former mayor of the municipality of Durres, Vangjush Dako, ABC News journalist Ermal Vija reports. He will continue to stay in prison, where he is accused of …
Arson suspected as three cars get burned in Vlora at night
Three cars were engulfed in flames in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Vlora, two of which were completely burned while another partially. Cause of the fire is suspected to have been arson. Police revealed that the incident happened around 04:55, when the fire service received a report of …
Two arrested for Belgium-Albania goods’ smuggling
Two people have been arrested while another has been put under investigation for smuggling goods this Tuesday. Based on police information, the arrested are a 58-year-old man from Tirana, who transported smuggled goods from Belgium to Albania, and a 45-year-old man, also from the capital, who stored the goods in …
During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here
The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here
The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here
Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …
The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here
Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here
Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here
Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …