The Albanian Special Structure against Corruption (SPAK) has requested a 12-year prison sentence for former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri over charges of international drugs traffic and participation in a structured crime organization. If found guilty, the former minister may be sentenced to eight years in prison, having agreed to a short trial. The same sentence over the same charges was requested for former police officer Jaeld Çela, in absence.

Tahiri objected all charges, claiming he has had no contacts with any of the members of the criminal group led by his cousins, the Habilaj brothers.

Meanwhile, the court session was interrupted due to a cut of electric power.

Tahiri finished under investigation on October 2017 after the Italian authorities destroyed a criminal group dedicated to the international the international traffic of marijuana which was led by the two brothers Habilaj, relatives of the former minister. At the time, the Prosecution Office requested his arrest, but the Socialist majority in the Albanian parliament voted against the lift of immunity and attacked the Prosecution Office as biased.