In Saranda, a 47-year-old man has been arrested by police after allegedly carrying out construction work on an unauthorized building in the "Shqiponja" beach area, in neighborhood no. 4.

During the field checks, the blue uniforms found that a piece of land had been flattened and covered with construction materials. According to the investigations, the area was being prepared for the construction of a building for the purpose of profit by citizen Aleksandër Rica, a resident of Tirana.

Following the operation, the police also seized 48 sun loungers and umbrellas, which were suspected of being used without permission in this area. The Area Policing Specialist has also been suspended from duty in this case, as he had not identified the illegality. Disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against the police officer for serious misconduct.

The police announced that checks in the territory will continue to prevent and crack down on illegal construction and violations in coastal areas. The procedural materials for the case have been referred to the Prosecutor's Office for further action.

Police notification

Saranda/A 47-year-old man was arrested in flagrante delicto while carrying out work on the illegal construction of a building in the beach area, in neighborhood no. 4.

48 sun loungers and umbrellas were removed and seized from the beach area in this area, which this citizen was administering without permission.

The Area Policing Specialist (APS) is suspended from duty, and disciplinary proceedings against him have been initiated for a serious violation.

As a result of daily field checks and verifications, with the aim of preventing, identifying and combating crimes against the environment, the Police services found near the "Eagle" beach, in neighborhood no. 4, a flattened area of ​​land covered with construction materials.

The investigative actions resulted in this land area being prepared for the construction of a facility for profit purposes, by citizen AR.

At the conclusion of the actions in the case, the Crime Investigation specialists of the Saranda Police Commissariat arrested in flagrante delicto the citizen AR, 47 years old, resident of Tirana.

Also, the Area Policing Specialist (APS), citizen AN, was suspended from duty, and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him, as he failed to ascertain this illegality.

Controls and verifications in the territory continue.

The procedural materials were referred to the Prosecutor's Office for further action.

Details revealed. He would build a building on the beach without a permit, Rica arrested several times

The State Police, in a press release, announced yesterday the arrest of businessman Aleksandër Rica and the suspension of a zone inspector after it was determined that works had begun on the construction of an unauthorized facility near the "Eagle" beach in neighborhood no. 4 in Saranda.

Official sources indicate that the 56-year-old arrested is a person who has been booked several times for illegal construction, even owning a completely illegal beach and Beach Bar, which has been operating as such for several years. It was initially taken over several years ago under a contract by Rica, but it turns out that it had been used freely for two years without documentation, even having construction inside it. For this reason, only yesterday, after the discovery of an illegal construction nearby, the sun loungers on his beach were also removed.

In September 2021, he was arrested for building 3 buildings without a permit in the green crown of Saranda. During the search of his apartment, ammunition was also found. After the arrest, he was released by the Court. For this incident, he was sentenced in February 2024 to 2 years in prison, but suspended on condition that he not commit a criminal offense for 4 years.

But even though he was sentenced to probation, in June 2024, Aleksandër Rica was arrested for illegally building a building in neighborhood no. 4, in a coveted coastal area, where today his beach called "Shqiponja" is located, also equipped with a Beach Bar, which according to sources is illegal. Even after this arrest, he was released by the Court.

Also in June 2024, his son Akil Rica was wanted for illegal construction in the same area but was later released.

In March 2026, Aleksandër Rica was released on bail again after being caught carrying out illegal excavations and encircling a plot of land near "Shqiponja" beach.

Rica was also convicted by the Saranda Court in 2016 for "illegal employment" with a fine of 400.000 lek, while in 2017 for "hiding income" with 2 months in prison.