SPAK report on money laundering in Albania: Mainly stemming from drug and arms trafficking

2026-03-09 14:07:00, Aktualitet CNA

SPAK report on money laundering in Albania: Mainly stemming from drug and arms

A report compiled by the Special Prosecution Office on the institution's activities throughout 2025 also focuses on another problem in Albania, such as money laundering.

Based on the report, money laundering is closely linked to the main criminal activities from which these criminal proceeds originate, such as narcotics trafficking, arms trafficking, illegal immigration, human trafficking, and fraudulent financial schemes.

"Laundering schemes are characterized by the diversification of transfer channels and the masking of funds, including informal value transfer systems (Havala), the use of cryptocurrencies, intensive cash circulation and the fragmentation of transactions to avoid financial reporting. In some cases, the use of international networks with operational nodes in several countries is observed, where the functions of generating criminal proceeds, transferring them and reintegration into the economy through intermediaries and cover structures are divided. The use of encrypted communications and specialized financial intermediaries increases the level of secrecy and makes it difficult to trace these monetary transactions," the report emphasizes.

According to SPAK, commercial entities are often used for money laundering, as a cover for these illegal funds.

"Repeated features in various cases include the use of formally legal commercial entities as a cover for the circulation and recycling of funds, including currency exchange offices, money transfer companies, travel agencies, construction and commercial entities, as well as non-bank financial structures. These activities serve not only for the deposit and distribution of amounts, but also for the creation of fictitious documentation. A particular characteristic was the distribution of benefits within the networks; the persons who carry out the transfer and transport of money usually benefited from 3 to 10% of the amount sent, with a common average rate of around 5–6% divided between the coordinators in the country of origin and those in the host country, while the physical carriers receive lower remuneration, around 1-5% or a fixed payment for each shipment," the SPAK report states.

SPAK emphasizes that the final phase of laundering includes investments in real estate, businesses with high cash turnover, and commercial activities with weak internal controls, aiming to integrate criminal proceeds into the formal economy./ CNA