Suspicious transfers/ Anti-terror investigated mujahedin for money laundering

2023-06-28 22:50:00, Kronika CNA

Despite the developments at the global level and the relations with the regime of Iran from the western allies, what is known for sure is the fact that the control action was not that much of a surprise.

"Inside Story" has provided an internal report of the intelligence structures that lists a number of cases and criminal investigations initiated against the mujahedin over the years.

Throughout the years 2017-2023, the Police has referred to the Prosecutor's Office nine cases which refer to illegal actions committed by members of the Iranian community in Albania. This includes actors suspected of being part of the Iranian secret services interested in hitting the MEK.

An investigation in 2017 raised doubts about the source of funds deposited in cash by some members of the MEK in Albania, Top Channel reports.

According to the information, all individual donors declared the same source of income, that the funds had been personally brought "cash" to Albania, or that they had been brought by their family members. In no case did they have any document proving the source of this money. This has raised suspicions of dark financing and money laundering.

However, this information filed in the prosecution body was not registered as a criminal proceeding by the prosecution, not being subject to a further investigation.

On August 17, 2022, 12 members of the MEK organization were investigated. They were accused of disturbing the order and organizing and participating in illegal gatherings. These people, at the Summer Book Festival in Durrës, clashed with some members of the ASILA association, a group of mujahedin separated from the MEK camp.

With placards in their hands, describing the members of the ASILA association as terrorists, the Mujahideen called for them to leave the fair. According to them, this association makes propaganda against the MEK in Albania, considering them spies of Iran.

This was one of the cases when the conflict between two groups of Iranians took place openly and in the eyes of the Albanian authorities.