Murders in Albania/ SPAK Report: Linked to criminal groups, carried out with weapons and explosives

2026-03-09 14:42:00, Aktualitet CNA

Murders in Albania/ SPAK Report: Linked to criminal groups, carried out with

The annual report of the Special Prosecution's activity for 2025 focuses, among other things, on murders in Albania.

Based on the report, SPAK's joint investigations with international authorities have documented that sophisticated murders constitute another characteristic activity of some Albanian criminal groups, often linked to revenge and conflicts between criminal groups.

Regarding the method of operation, the report provides details on which it is learned that executions are carried out through several methods, including firearms, explosive vehicle explosions, and even hiding corpses.

"The operational structure of these groups was hierarchical, with leaders coordinating the planning of executions and members providing executioners, weapons, and explosive devices to carry out crimes. The activities of these groups included: executions with firearms, explosions of vehicles with explosives, attempts to eliminate opponents, hiding corpses, and securing material means," the report emphasizes.

Regarding the connection between contract killings and the laundering of money obtained from drug trafficking activity, which came mainly from South America to Europe and Albania, the report emphasizes that the killings were carried out in designated environments where the lives of innocent people who happened to be nearby were also at risk.

"The money was used for payments to executioners, weapons purchases, investments in the real estate sector and private commercial activities. The investigations also revealed the use of encrypted communications for planning executions, warnings of checks and logistical coordination. Criminal groups carried out coordinated actions at a specific time and place, endangering not only the lives of opponents, but also that of innocent people who were at the scene," the report mentions. /CNA