The Directorate of Professional Standards within the Policia e Shtetit has dismissed two senior police officials and imposed disciplinary measures on others following revelations of illegal gambling and drug activity operating for months in the city of Lezhë.

Authorities confirmed that Taulant Gjoka, former Deputy Director for Public Order at the Lezhë Police Directorate, and Oltion Gjoni, former Chief of the Lezhë Police Commissariat, have been expelled from the ranks of the State Police.

Meanwhile, Altin Mena, the former Director of Lezhë Police — who currently serves as Deputy Director for Public Order in Kukës — has been subjected to a disciplinary measure of rank reduction for a period of five years. Kujtim Gjoka, Deputy Director for Crime, has also been penalized with a postponement of his promotion eligibility.

The decision follows findings that during their leadership tenure in Lezhë, a three-story casino operated openly in the city center for an extended period. The establishment reportedly housed more than 20 slot machines and a dedicated poker room. During a police intervention, authorities seized suspected cocaine inside the premises.

In a separate operation, law enforcement uncovered a warehouse adapted for cannabis cultivation along the national Lezhë–Milot road. The facility had allegedly been operational since August 2025, with more than 1,000 cannabis plants confiscated during the raid.

The Directorate of Professional Standards stated that the measures reflect institutional accountability and reaffirm the State Police’s commitment to enforcing the law and maintaining public trust.