Mara responds to Italian prosecutor: Albanian criminal groups have found support from criminal elements in Italy

2026-05-26 11:24:00, Aktualitet CNA

Mara responds to Italian prosecutor: Albanian criminal groups have found support

SPAK Prosecutor Vladimir Mara, at the joint conference with Italian investigative authorities, stated that thanks to the cooperation between the Special Prosecution Office and the Anti-Mafia of Bari, several criminal acts of the targeted Albanian criminal group have been documented. Mara stated that this investigation also led to the unraveling of the murder committed in Italy.

Earlier, the Bari prosecutor stated that Albanian criminal groups have achieved a leadership role in the territories where they operate. In response to Mara, he said that Albanian criminal groups have found support among criminal elements in Italy, collaborating, advancing and modernizing in the commission of pre-existing crimes.

Among other things, Special Prosecutor Vladimir Mara praised the cooperation with the Anti-Mafia of Bari as a model for cooperation with law enforcement agencies in all countries.

"The investigation has been joint, in the continuation of investigations since 2018 until today. This is the sixth investigative team between SPAK and the Antimafia of Bari. Thanks to this cooperation, concrete results have been achieved. We have documented drug trafficking episodes, episodes of displacement of the product produced by the criminal group. Thanks to this investigation, a murder in Italy has also been solved. It has been a very good cooperation. We have been and remain cooperative with all Italian prosecutors and all law enforcement agencies throughout Europe.

Albanian organized crime elements have found support for crime here in Italy by creating certain models, collaborating, advancing and modernizing in the commission of pre-existing crimes. Today we cannot speak of a nationality of crime, but we can say that we have criminal phenomena and in these conditions cooperation is necessary. This cooperation has been a model for cooperation with all countries , "said Mara. /CNA