SPAK reveals the map where criminal groups operate: From the involvement of women to murders, the ways they operate

The Special Prosecutor's Office (SPAK) has today published a voluminous report taking stock of the year 2023. A major part of this report is dedicated to organized crime. SPAK has reported the general characteristics of criminal groups in Albania, the way they operate and their characteristics.

Criminal groups

From the investigations carried out in 2023, according to SPAK, criminal groups were identified in Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Fier, Shkodër, Elbasan, Kurbin and Fushë-Krujë.

Criminal groups operating in Tirana and coastal cities are mainly oriented towards money laundering. In Durrës, Vlora, Gjirokastër, Fier and Kurbin, criminal groups are more focused on drug trafficking.

While the corruption of justice officials has been noticed, according to the SPAK report, in cities such as Durrës, Shkodra, Laçi and Fushë-Kruja.

Murders and the connection of the police to criminal groups

Murders and attempted murders have been noticed more in cities such as Durrës, Fushë Krujë, Fier, Vlorë, Shkodër and Elbasan, while the report states that criminal groups specializing in paid murders have been identified.

SPAK has also highlighted in the report the links created between representatives of the state police and criminal groups, but also the involvement of powerful businessmen, mainly at the local level, in crimes.

Money laundering

Money laundering continues to be one of the most widespread crimes among Albanian criminal groups. According to SPAK, the method remains the same: Commercial companies serve to receive and transfer dirty money, distributing it through investments and regular commercial transactions. Investments in movable property and real estate still remain among the most preferred forms of money laundering, mainly in apartments, buildings, land, orchards, service units in the city of Tirana, but also in coastal tourist areas.

Money laundering is not only an Albanian problem, but an international one. The most complex scheme was the use of Albanian banking institutions, as a place of transit and the use of Albanian commercial entities, as "intermediaries" of money laundering by international criminal organizations, such as the case of the Italian mafia.

Excerpts from SPAK's report

General characteristics of Albanian criminal groups

From the analysis of investigations carried out in 2023, the most specific features of Albanian criminal groups are an average membership of group members of 15-25 people. Albanian criminal groups are mainly poly-criminal, which mainly includes drug trafficking, murders, kidnappings, illegal possession and production of explosive weapons and ammunition, etc.

Violence, which is a fading feature, remains another characteristic of Albanian criminal groups.

Violence is mainly used by groups with a hierarchical structure, which are based on blood and family ties, and which are in conflict for territorial control or competition for criminal markets. Albanian groups that have this feature are mainly groups that have consolidated activity in a certain territory, but which also have scope and criminal activity in international criminal markets.

In cases of carrying out activities in international criminal markets, Albanian groups cooperate with other groups for services that cannot be covered by them.

There is also a collaboration of criminal groups with state police officers of various ranks in the Albanian territory, as well as officials of the justice bodies, who have played various roles, starting from the de-conspiracy of police operations, the notification of persons adversary targeted by criminal groups, providing information to various individuals, and other activities in the obstruction of justice.

A disturbing characteristic is the involvement of key persons in community life, such as Village Heads (chief elders), who are involved either directly in criminal activities or indirectly by abusing their duties or not reporting the crime.

There is a growing trend of women's involvement in important functions for criminal groups. Some of the most typical roles identified in criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking are those in the administration of income and supervision of the physical transfer and through banking institutions of money. Mostly the women who play these roles are cohabitants of the heads of the organization and are considered very reliable persons of the criminal organization.

Sophisticated forms of murder, avoiding leaving traces, are another characteristic of criminal groups.

Criminal groups specializing in paid murders have already been identified. It is also noted, the ever-increasing use of encrypted forms of communication using various applications and specialized telephone devices for such communications.

Making payments, as well as converting money into cryptocurrencies is another feature that has been evidenced during 2023. It should be noted that this phenomenon has been noticed mostly by criminal groups, which have carried out transactions by means of computer fraud, through commercial activities, the so-called "call center".

Criminal groups operating in Albania

The structure of these groups depends mainly on the type of criminal activity, the duration, the area where they operate and their extent in the international criminal markets.

From the investigations of 2023, it is noted that some of the criminal groups known in the country already show how sophisticated their actions have become, this and as a result of clashes with other rival groups. These groups are poly-criminal and extend to international criminal markets mainly in South America, the European Union (EU) and Great Britain.

Their presence in Albania, and the impact in the areas where they operate in the community continues to remain significant. The structure of these criminal groups is hierarchical with clear divisions of roles, and with an average number of members of 10-15 people. Their connections are based on family and social ties. The decision-making part is based on family ties.

As stated above, what is noticed in some cases are the connections established with representatives of the state police, either at the local or central level, who have helped criminal groups mainly in providing information or following the movements of opponents. theirs. Another feature is the involvement of powerful businessmen, mainly at the local level, who play the role of key intermediaries, where, in addition to commercial relations, they have offered these groups their connections in the state police, justice bodies and public administration, mainly in providing information or contacts to third parties.

Map of criminal markets

The analysis of the criminal markets in Albania shows a reality to worry about.

From this year's investigations, groups with criminal activity were identified in Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Fier, Shkodër, Elbasan, Kurbin and Fushë-Krujë.

In Tirana and other coastal cities, criminal groups are mainly oriented more towards money laundering.

Narcotics traffic is a visible problem in the districts of Durrës, Vlora, Gjirokastra, Fier and Kurbin.

In some cities such as Durrës, Shkodra, Laçi and Fushë-Kruja, the corruption of justice officials has been evidenced.

Murders and attempted murders have been noticed more in cities such as Durrës, Fushë Krujë, Fier, Vlorë, Shkodër and Elbasan. These crimes are indicative of an increasing trend of violence and criminality in these areas.

In the area of ??Fushë-Kruja, there are also cases of the purchase of weapons and explosives, as well as stolen cars that serve as tools for committing murders.

To read the full SPAK report click HERE

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