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From construction investments to money laundering/How organized crime is penetrating the economy...
2026-03-04 16:36:24 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
In Albania, organized crime is no longer seen solely as an issue of criminal groups, but as a phenomenon that is penetrating the economy, influencing public decision-making, and challenging the state's own capacity to exercise control.
A report presented by the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance sheds light on the administrative approach against organized crime.
The study, which focuses on four regions, Elbasan, Shkodër, Durrës and Vlorë, raises questions about the effectiveness of the instruments at the state's disposal. Although Albania has a wide range of legal and administrative mechanisms, the findings show that they operate in a fragmented manner, without joint risk analyses, structured information exchange and strategic oversight.
The report highlights several key problems:
In practice, this means that although laws exist, their preventive impact on organized crime remains limited. The recovery of assets suspected of being the product of criminal activity proves difficult, while data on the implementation of the “anti-mafia” law and the strength of the law remain fragmented, demonstrating the lack of a consolidated monitoring system.
Organized crime and infiltration of the economy
Researcher Mirsada Hallunaj said that the report shows that organized crime is a serious threat in Albania with a profound impact on the economy.
"It has strong ties to international trafficking networks and informal capital. It influences public decision-making through corruption and institutional infiltration," Hallunaj underlined.
The survey conducted as part of the study highlighted the high public perception of the penetration of crime into the formal economy. When asked: Do you believe that crime tries to operate through legitimate businesses to launder its activities, 58.5% of respondents said yes often, 32.8% sometimes and only 1.01% not at all.
Regarding the most used forms of profiting from the legal-economic system, 32.3% of respondents mentioned property investments. Meanwhile, 44.2% believe that the construction and real estate sector is the most used by criminal groups to carry out their operations.
European integration and institutional challenges
The Chairwoman of the Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, Milva Ekonomi, emphasized that Albania is in a new phase of European integration and the opening of chapters constitutes an important challenge.
"The sector belongs to Chapter 24 and there are several responsible institutions. Despite the tasks coming from the EU, in October 2024 we left the grey list, which shows that we have made steps forward in the fight against organized crime," she said.
Ekonomi added that prevention remains a priority, in collaboration with the Minister of State for Anti-Corruption, and for 2025, around 200 "red flags" have been identified by the public administration, to prevent cases of corruption.
DP MP and Vice-Chairman of the Economy Committee Eno Bozdo emphasized the high level of penetration of organized crime into the Albanian economy.
"From the report, 90% of Albanians had often or sometimes heard about cases of organized crime penetrating the economy. The main channel for money laundering is the construction sector. Organized crime has influenced the seizure of power, OSCE/ODIHR qualifies this. Unfortunately, organized crime is consolidated in its capture of the Albanian economy and society," said Bozdo.
At the meeting, EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato underlined that justice and law enforcement are essential in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
"This situation demonstrates the need for closer cooperation between institutions, law enforcement authorities and the private sector, in order to prevent the misuse of legal structures and strengthen the rule of law," he said.
The report highlighted that Albania has built a considerable legal and institutional base to combat organized crime, but the main challenge remains the functional integration of existing instruments. Without structured coordination, regular exchange of information and joint risk analysis, the administrative approach risks remaining fragmented and with limited impact on the real prevention of the phenomenon. /ACQJ
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