The Special Prosecution against  Corruption (SPAK) shed light over the properties of the businessman Ermal Beqiri, arrested in France, who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Albanian judicial authorities. The arrest follows a joint investigation between Albanian and French law enforcement agencies that also led to the identification of assets in France allegedly linked to the suspect.

According to SPAK, investigators have identified a castle in France valued at approximately €2.6 million, two apartments, bank accounts holding more than €2 million, motor vehicles, and other assets believed to be connected to Beqiri. Albanian prosecutors have submitted a request for mutual legal assistance to French judicial authorities seeking the seizure of the identified assets, as well as any additional property uncovered during the ongoing investigation.

SPAK said Beqiri has been under investigation since December 5, 2025, in connection with a criminal case involving allegations of money laundering, active corruption of public officials, participation in a structured criminal group, unlawful deprivation of liberty, unlawful competition through violence, and violations of public procurement rules.

On December 15, 2025, Albania's Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime ordered Beqiri and another suspect, identified by the initials E.A., to be held in pretrial detention. Following the court order, Albanian authorities requested an Interpol Red Notice, which was issued later that month to facilitate their arrest and extradition.

SPAK said cooperation with French authorities intensified on June 19, 2026, when Albanian prosecutors requested assistance from France's Internal Security Service (SSI) after receiving information that Beqiri was in French territory. French authorities subsequently launched coordinated investigations involving the National Directorate of the Judicial Police (DNPJ), the Central Office for Combating Organized Crime (OCLCO), the National Brigade for the Search of Wanted Persons (BNRF), and the Central Office for Combating Serious Financial Crime (OCRGDF).

According to the statement, French investigators confirmed Beqiri's presence in the country and traced multiple assets believed to be of criminal origin. Financial investigations remain ongoing to facilitate the seizure and eventual confiscation of the identified assets under international judicial cooperation mechanisms.

Beqiri was arrested on July 24, 2026, after allegedly entering the restricted airspace surrounding the Penly nuclear power plant in northern France with a light aircraft. French authorities forced the aircraft to land at the Albert aerodrome, where he was taken into custody.

A French court subsequently ordered that Beqiri remain in custody pending extradition proceedings to Albania. SPAK said Albanian authorities have formally submitted an extradition request through the Albanian Ministry of Justice to the competent French authorities.

French investigators have also carried out searches of Beqiri's person and several properties linked to him, seizing items considered relevant to the criminal investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing in both Albania and France.