FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Violent crime in Albania, including murders, is often linked to organized crime, and judges, prosecutors, police, politicians, journalists, and activists are subject to intimidation...
"Albanian law enforcement agencies have coordinated with authorities in Europe, South America, and the United States to help dismantle international organized crime groups responsible for drug trafficking and money laundering, but continued efforts are needed to combat the influence of organized crime groups," says the 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy report, published by the United States of America.
The report comes at a time when doubts have been raised about whether or not the US continues to support SPAK. And in this context, the dilemmas seem to be resolved, as the report assesses the blows that SPAK has made in the fight against organized crime.
The report, regarding Albania, states that organized crime led by Albanians plays an important role in supplying international markets with cannabis, cocaine and heroin, according to Albanian law enforcement authorities.
"These Albanian-led organised crime groups exhibit increasingly sophisticated crimes, communication techniques and money laundering. They operate throughout the Balkans, as well as in the European Union (EU), the United States, Canada, South America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. Albanian criminal networks have direct access to cocaine production in South America and the trafficking networks that bring cocaine to Europe and the United Kingdom.
They use the Albanian economy, especially the construction sector, to launder income and contribute to corruption.
"Violent crime in Albania, including murders, is often linked to organized crime, and judges, prosecutors, police, politicians, journalists, and activists are subject to intimidation," the report says.
Albania participates in the Global Coalition to Address the Threat of Synthetic Drugs, but during this reporting period officials did not report the seizure of fentanyl or other synthetic drugs in significant quantities.
It is further noted that Albanian prosecutors and law enforcement agencies participated in joint investigative teams important for EU membership applications. These and other operations, often supported by US and EU advisors, led to the dismantling of several significant international organized crime and drug trafficking organizations in 2024.
"Albania's Special Prosecution Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) participated in 35 joint investigation teams in 2023 and expanded their use in 2024.
SPAK also seized and confiscated significant assets, including real estate, vehicles, businesses, and cash.
In one example, SPAK and the Albanian State Police coordinated with Eurojust, Europol and other authorities targeting an Albanian-led organized crime group that trafficked cocaine and laundered proceeds through companies supplying false invoices worth around $400 million. The operation led to 66 arrests and the seizure of 360 kilograms of cocaine, $4.3 million in cash, and weapons and other assets worth $65 million," the report states.
Lini një Përgjigje