Assets confiscated from illegal sources/ Hoxha: The goal is to return them to public service

2025-02-12 14:37:00, Politikë CNA

Assets confiscated from illegal sources/ Hoxha: The goal is to return them to

Assets confiscated from organized crime and deemed illegal are on the rise, the Interior Minister confirmed.

At the conference "From Illicit Profits to Public Good: The Future of Confiscated Assets", attended by heads of law enforcement agencies, experts and representatives of local institutions and organizations, Minister Hoxha made an exposition of the situation, underlining that the fight against crime is a success only when the assets or wealth that result from criminal activity are confiscated.

In this context, he appreciated the work being done by the Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK).

The purpose of this conference is to exchange experiences in the country with those of foreign authorities, on the most efficient way of reusing assets with criminal sources, so that they can be put at the service of the public.

Minister Hoxha stated that "the final goal is the good management of such an asset, which means returning it to public service. Whether through use by state structures, or through giving it to private use, or through a final sale at a double auction, as provided for by law."

Confiscation of assets with sources from criminal activity is the final phase of the fight against crime, said Hoxha.

"Taking into administration a property created with illegal sources is the final phase of the entire inter-institutional effort to hit crime at its nerve center, which are properties, assets, money," said the head of the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking about the work of the AAPSK, Hoxha said that it enjoys the support of the Ministry of Interior, the Police and other law enforcement structures.

He also spoke about the challenges this agency faces.

"For the work and activities of the Agency (AAPSK) to be efficient and as far away as possible from the underground pressure exerted by organized crime, there is a necessary need for the support of the Police," said the Minister of Interior.

In his speech, he made it clear that the fight against crime and criminal assets is without any compromise and will continue unabated.

"We want to discourage those individuals or criminal networks who think they can profit illegally and then enjoy the fruits of such activity," emphasized Hoxha.

Mentioning some of the results achieved by the AAPSK, Hoxha stated that "there are a considerable number of buildings or premises that have been confiscated and put at the service of the public. Even the Agency itself works today in confiscated offices. Our goal is for the confiscated assets to maintain their value and possibly increase in value so that they can be inventoried as material goods at the service of citizens."

The conference is attended by representatives of institutions and experts from Italy, Romania and other countries with experience in confiscating criminal assets and reusing them for the benefit of the public./ CNA