Albanian court voids conviction of ex‑drug chief Dritan Zagani

Albania’s Constitutional Court accepted the appeal of former narcotics‑unit head Dritan Zagani, annulling the High Court’s February 18 2025 decision and remanding the case for reconsideration. Zagani, who had been sentenced to four years and six months for “abuse of duty” and “obstruction of crime,” argues he was never accused of profiting from his position or aiding traffickers. He highlighted successful operations that seized 109 kg of cannabis in Albania and led to the arrest in Italy of a person with six kilograms of cocaine.

The courts’ conviction was criticised for lacking a specific legal basis or demonstrated criminal intent. Zagani had previously denounced former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri’s links to the Habilaj drug‑trafficking group, a claim that preceded public condemnation by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the interior minister. After the legal proceedings, Zagani left Albania and now lives under political asylum. The operation he reported was overseen by Skënder Hita, who was promoted to Director General of the State Police on 30 March 2026.