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Dumani reports to the Assembly: Here are the most problematic cities for crime in the country

Politiko 2024-07-15 13:19:06

Dumani reports to the Assembly: Here are the most problematic cities for crime

The head of the Special Prosecutor's Office, Nuredin Dumani, reported this Monday to the Assembly the annual report of the institution he leads. He said that the most problematic cities for murder are Durresi, Fushë-Kruja, Fieri, Vlora, Shkodra and Elbasani, while those for drug trafficking are Durresi, Vlora, Gjirokastra, Fieri and Kurbini. According to him, Albanian criminal groups around the world have become sophisticated and have taken a dominant position in the cocaine trade.

"Regarding the typology, the investigations of 2023 show that criminal groups are sophisticated in the trafficking of hard drugs and having a dominant position in the trafficking of cocaine. The activity of criminal groups that operate through call centers, deceiving EU citizens, should also be considered a concern. The analysis of criminal markets in Albania shows a disturbing situation in cities such as Vlora, Fieri, Elbasni, Tirana, Durrësi, Gjirokastra, Shkodra, Kurbini and Fushë-Kruja. In Tirana and the coastal cities, the groups deal mainly with money laundering, while drug trafficking has become a problem in Durrës, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Fier and Kurbin. Murders and attempted murders are more frequent in Durrës, Fushë-Krujë, Fier, Vlorë, Shkodër and Elbasan. In Fushë-Kruje there is a trade in weapons, explosives and stolen cars that are used in criminal events." , Dumani said.

Duman also focused on the corruption of public officials, where he said that procedures are used that legalize the appropriation of public funds, which are then used by legal entities, which often change shareholders and trade names.

"Regarding the criminal offense of corruption, the criminal investigations of 2023 show that corruption includes actions that appear to be legal but have as their purpose illegal gain. Procedures are used that legalize the gain from public funds by disguising the criminal nature. This happens often and in an organized manner, including the use of legal entities that benefit from public funds that often change shareholders or trade names" , said Dumani.

As for money laundering, the head of SPAK said that the phenomenon is widespread mainly in Tirana and tourist areas, where illegal money is invested in movable and immovable property.

"I present to you some data regarding the laundering of money from organized crime. Investments in movable and immovable properties remain the main way of laundering money in Albania. Especially in apartments, buildings and service units in Tirana, but also tourist areas, such as Vlora Durrësi and Lezha. Also, a significant amount of money is suspected to be deposited in bank accounts in the names of commercial companies or in the names of relatives of suspected persons. We also had a case where foreign criminal organizations tried to launder money in Albania through sophisticated schemes. But the scheme was discovered and the considerable amount of money was seized", said Dumani.

The head of SPAK added that "the corruption of justice officials has been evidenced in Durrës, Shkodër, Tirana, Laç and Fushë-Krujë".