Albania: Tens of apartments, villas and land, seized criminal group assets, total over 1m euros

According to the SPAK, the court's decision, with anti-x0> placing preventive sequistros”, has been seized by 42 assets, including 38 real estate, such as apartments, villas, field land, palace building four stories and four bank accounts.

During the operation it has exercised control at 8 different environments in which a large sum of cash has been seized, in various currency and money at a total of over one million euros, as well as other material evidence showing interest in the investigation.

Following the request of the Special Prosecutor against Corruption and Organised Crime, the Special Court Anti Corruption imposed personal security measures for 33 citizens. The General Directorate of State Police has executed on the 3107.2024 measures under 13 citizens, while 2 other citizens are found arrested abroad.

Regarding money laundering, from data provided by the prosecution's body, it turns out that this criminal organisation has invested in Albania a portion of the revenue stemming from the criminal activity of international drug trafficking, mainly in the real estate market (through the purchase of various properties such as apartments, villas, bars and restaurants and land surface), in the cities of Tirana, Elbasan and Durres.

Data with interest in the wealth, investments, and assets of two brothers in Albania has been obtained from intensive investigations, forms used by them, as well as persons involved in the process of cleaning up criminal products or criminal activity.

The use of the construction sector by criminal organisations is identified, where through third persons it has injected and invested substantial monetary sums for the realisation of residential buildings in the process of construction, as well as the construction of residential buildings/complexs from the beginning.

It turns out, the criminal organisation has invested in the launching of economic operators as well as the use of existing economic operators with activity in Albania, which “de jure” have been registered in the name of their social, friendly and cooperative connections, not exposing owners “facto” and using them as kamuflim/Hide of the true nature of the resource and activity, with a view to money laundering which stems from criminal activity.

Also identified is national F. G. (other than F. C.), in repeated cases, has realised the transfer of considerable monetary values through the use of exchange offices (Exchanging) both inside and abroad, sending it to its deliberately trusted persons, among other things, and carrying out the payment of ordered murders and conducting investments for their accounts in Albania and abroad.