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DASH Report on Albania: Corruption, Weak Rule of Law, and Unemployment Fuel Drug Trafficking

Politiko 2025-03-21 18:53:35

DASH Report on Albania: Corruption, Weak Rule of Law, and Unemployment Fuel Drug

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.