The criminal case against Bektash Zeneli is being reviewed today at the High Court, following the appeal filed by the defendant against previous decisions issued by the Special Courts. Zeneli was arrested red-handed with 7.5 kg of cannabis.

During his speech, prosecutor Arqile Koça said that this issue has two main points that need to be examined. "Today's issue carries two main points. The first is related to the unification of the practice and also the specific issue. We request that the session be held behind closed doors, due to the problems that the issue has. Regarding the unification of the practice, it should be open as much as possible, but the media should not be present on the issue.", he said. Meanwhile, lawyer Luan Hasneziri expressed agreement with the prosecutor. "I agree with the prosecutor that the specific issue should be discussed behind closed doors.", he added.

The Joint Panels of the Court, as they withdrew for the decision, decided that the court hearing will take place in two phases. The first phase is related to the consideration of judicial practice on security measures.

Meanwhile, the second part where the specific case will be discussed will be behind closed doors. It is learned that the first rapporteur, Ilir Panda, will report on the circumstances of the case in question. Journalist Klodiana Lala reports for BalkanWeb that the arrested person was initially remanded in custody by the Lezha Court.
Based on the appeal, the Court of Appeals has decided to place the suspect under 'house arrest', while the prosecution has filed an appeal and is requesting Zenel's return to prison.

Rapporteur Ilir Panda: The report that has been made available to them is related to the fundamental right addressed by the Constitution. In this report, it results that in October 2025, the police in the Lezha area conducted a search in the apartment of this citizen after a quantity of narcotics was found and the prosecution requested the security measure 'arrest in prison' and legal arrest. The first instance court of Lezha has decided to accept the prosecution's request. Among other things, the court has decided to implement the unifying decision of 2011 of the High Court, which served for the needs of determining security measures. Through the defense attorney, the arrested person has filed an appeal in the Appeal Court and then the Court of Appeal has imposed the security measure 'house arrest'. The prosecutor has filed a recourse against this decision and has requested the change of the Appeal decision and the leaving in force of the First Instance decision. Regarding the partial change of unified judicial practice, with the reasoning that some decisions require special review and with this argument, the case was transferred to the Supreme Court for review.
1- justification for the imposition of a coercive security measure.
2- The measure must also be consistent with the penalty margin of the offense.
3-measure is not applied when the defendant presents positive evidence. The unifying decision of 2011 has been applied so far by all courts, but in this practice the united panels have concluded that the decision should be reviewed regarding the security measures and the type of security measure chosen, especially that of imprisonment.

Prosecutor: The conventions state that regardless of whether a citizen is detained, he must be tried within a reasonable time. Restriction of freedom according to the law cannot be repressive, but on the other hand guarantees are given that the person under investigation will not evade trial in a state governed by law.

Judge Enton Dhimitir: The question that naturally arises is why they need to change it after what we understood from your report, if the changes to the 2017 law are based on European standards then why is there a need for change.
Prosecutor Arqile Koça: We take into account what we want to achieve, but to achieve the objectives for improving legislation.
Judge Enton Dhimitri: The burden of proof lies with the prosecutor. If we say that the prosecutor has the duty to ensure the appropriateness of the requested measures, then the court has the obligation to justify the inappropriateness or appropriateness of the measures?

Prosecutor Arqile Koca: The criminal justice system consists of the Prosecutor's Office and the court, if we discipline the court we have automatically disciplined the prosecutor. If the prosecutor convinces the court, it convinces it, if not, it does not convince it and does not take the measure it requests. We must achieve harmonization. I am concerned that in your reasoning you should be careful to be in harmony. Alternative measures in the Albanian reality are unworkable. What I am saying is that the court must reason how it will be implemented, who will ensure that this person will come to court. The court puts pressure on the prosecutor and the prosecutor on the police. You are the highest authority in the judiciary to do this, those courts that are in a hierarchical level below. You put pressure on the court, they will put pressure on the prosecutor and the police.

Judge Sander Simoni: Do you think that the joint panels should make a distinction between the specific nature of criminal offenses? Should the panels make a distinction between minor and serious criminal offenses?
Prosecutor Arqile Koca: The Palermo Convention considers a serious crime to be an act that provides for a sentence of more than 4 years. This requires great care, so that when the sentences are combined, they are not categorical, because if they are, there will be problems.

Judge Arbena Ahmetaj: Are the circumstances of danger only those that are defined in the legislation or can the prosecution make a supplementary list? Also regarding the nature of a person?
Prosecutor Arqile Koça: We can provide an indicative list, it cannot be exhaustive, regarding the burden of proof, the court, based on the evidence it has, can also assess the measure. The first instance analyzes the fact, the appeal also the vision, while the high court looks at the law.
Judge Sokol Ngresi: What effect will the joint colleges' stance have on this issue?
Prosecutor Arqile Koca: The verification of the security measure is seen whether the parties should see if these measures stand or not. The options are either to return it or to resolve it themselves in another court. This is not an absolute invalidity, it is not relative.

THE ARREST OF THE OFFICER
Zeneli is included in one of the files related to drug trafficking and the activities of a structured criminal group that operated between Albania and Greece.
Investigations into this matter were conducted as part of the police operation codenamed "Limit", which led to the arrest and prosecution of several people suspected of drug trafficking.
The file has already been reviewed by this court, which will decide on the validity of the claims presented in the appeal.