
Flash News
Car catches fire near Durres train station
Former Dibra hospital director arrested, accused of stalking
Why are you so upset by Berisha's campaign?
Campaign inside the school, Zegjineja of Roskovec is reported to the CEC
Violence against a 14-year-old at the Police Station? / The Helsinki Committee raises the alarm: He was punched, the police did not take him to the doctor! To be investigated
DASH Report on Albania: Corruption, Weak Rule of Law, and Unemployment Fuel Drug Trafficking
The US Department of State has published the 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
The report also includes Albania, where it is stated 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 organized 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 ," the report states.
"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, particularly the construction sector, to launder proceeds 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. Albania participates in the Global Coalition to Address the Threat of Synthetic Drugs, but during this reporting period officials did not report any significant seizures of fentanyl or other synthetic drugs.
Albanian prosecutors and law enforcement agencies participated in joint investigative teams crucial to EU membership bids. 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 to target an Albanian-led organized crime group that trafficked cocaine and laundered proceeds through companies supplying false invoices worth approximately $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 further states.
According to DASH, Albanian authorities continued to investigate cannabis cultivation in the country and international cannabis trafficking.
"For example, a joint operation in 2024 led to the disruption of seven structured criminal groups and the seizure of $4.8 million in cash, firearms, vehicles, and other assets, as well as 20 arrests on charges of murder, illegal possession of weapons, and drug cultivation and trafficking ," the DASH notes.
Corruption, weak rule of law, and unemployment fuel the drug trafficking problem in Albania, reports DASH.
" US assistance includes advising SPAK on narcotics and organized crime issues; improving interagency cooperation in investigations; advising and training oversight agencies to investigate and punish corruption and organized crime within law enforcement agencies; and providing specialized equipment and training to improve law enforcement capabilities.
During the 12 months leading up to October 2024, an independent Albanian commission supported by the US and EU dismissed 22 judges and prosecutors for unjustified wealth, with some dismissals also based on contacts with organized crime. Albania should continue efforts to strengthen the rule of law, tighten money laundering regulations and oversight, and combat the influence of organized crime groups throughout government and society. Albanian law enforcement should expand cooperation with international counterparts to proactively target Albanian transnational criminal networks ,” the report says.
Latest news



Polls for May 11, LaCivita: They want to influence public opinion
2025-04-23 22:14:27
DP-ASHM campaign, Mediu: LaCivita in contact with us over 3 times a day
2025-04-23 21:51:31

Car catches fire near Durres train station
2025-04-23 21:23:53
Former Dibra hospital director arrested, accused of stalking
2025-04-23 21:23:07

Why are you so upset by Berisha's campaign?
2025-04-23 20:50:21
Dua Lipa enjoys vacation in Albania with new boyfriend, Callum Turner
2025-04-23 20:49:29

Germany says it has expelled "many" Russian agents
2025-04-23 20:15:55




Campaign inside the school, Zegjineja of Roskovec is reported to the CEC
2025-04-23 19:13:31

SPAK registers 23 proceedings for electoral crimes
2025-04-23 19:00:45
Meta responds to Rama: I had fun with 'ufon', Skrapar will have 3 MPs for sure
2025-04-23 18:27:19




BIRN: Unannounced PS-PSD alliance becomes conditional alliance
2025-04-23 17:23:28



Osmani: Any peace agreement should not encourage Russia's imperialist ambitions
2025-04-23 16:33:14

Powerful earthquake in Turkey/ 151 injured after jumping from heights
2025-04-23 16:13:52
The chaos in the US is an opportunity that Europe should seize
2025-04-23 15:52:49
The luckiest zodiac signs of the week
2025-04-23 15:40:34




Veliaj betrayed/ What does Lali's Facebook show?
2025-04-23 14:40:27
The effects of sweet potatoes on the body
2025-04-23 14:32:37
Berisha: The current code is probably the most absurd code on the planet
2025-04-23 14:17:49
Tom Doshi attacks Benet Beci: He has been accused, how can he run a campaign?
2025-04-23 14:08:37
Ilaria Sula's cell phone found in ex-boyfriend's Filipina apartment
2025-04-23 13:58:54


Albanian youth, sabotaged by the education system and the free market
2025-04-23 13:24:56




Do you know why April 23rd is called World Book Day?
2025-04-23 12:43:17
Strong earthquake strikes Turkey
2025-04-23 12:32:46
Overseas Voting Scandal/ London Citizen Denounces DHL Rejection of Her Envelope
2025-04-23 12:14:16
CEAZ seal in Bularat lost, Prosecution launches investigation
2025-04-23 12:09:51
A person had an accident and left the scene, the police officer was injured
2025-04-23 11:56:04



"Metamorphosis", the hearing for Pëllumb Gjoka and others is postponed
2025-04-23 11:18:27
Kosovo Assembly ousts Haxhiu as Speaker for the third time
2025-04-23 11:04:17

He killed his daughter in Tirana and then fled, 49-year-old Palestinian arrested
2025-04-23 10:43:53

23-year-old arrested in 'Don Bosko', caught with a pistol ready to sell
2025-04-23 10:19:31
FBI arrests Albanian for immigrant smuggling/Name
2025-04-23 10:12:54

Veliaj seeks freedom, hearing to be held at the GJKKO today
2025-04-23 09:54:18
Smart glasses and AI help blind people walk without a dog or cane
2025-04-23 09:29:54


Foreign exchange, how much foreign currencies are sold and bought today
2025-04-23 09:01:36
Sharra Landfill Reaches Maximum, Incinerator Requires Additional Space for Waste
2025-04-23 08:40:11

Horoscope, what do the stars have in store for you today?
2025-04-23 08:13:17

Morning Post/ In 2 lines: What mattered yesterday in Albania
2025-04-23 07:48:35






Op-Ed | Korça is emptying. Who is to blame?
2025-04-22 20:56:36



Berisha calls on diaspora: Don't photograph the vote, remain free citizens
2025-04-22 20:06:03



The KPA is requested to dismiss prosecutor Afrim Shehu.
2025-04-22 18:35:49
Accused of corruption, GJKKO jails the head of Tirana Road and his colleague
2025-04-22 18:15:17
Dom Gjergj Meta publishes video: The last child who met Pope Francis is Albanian
2025-04-22 17:55:53


Three foods that contain more iron than meat
2025-04-22 16:52:08



