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New details were made public by the Chief Prosecutor of Bari, Giuseppe Gatti, during a joint conference with the head of SPAK, Klodian Braho, regarding the joint operation between Albanian authorities and the Italian Anti-Mafia against a criminal group operating in both countries.
According to the Italian prosecutor, the investigations have led to the seizure of around 1 million euros in cash within a six-month period, money which was suspected to have been destined to be transported to Albania and laundered through various activities.
He announced that 640 thousand euros were seized in Albanian territory based on investigative clues from the Italian DIA, while another 400 thousand euros were blocked in Italy, as it was suspected that they would cross the Adriatic towards Albania.
According to the chief prosecutor of Bari, these financial movements clearly show that international drug trafficking continues to generate huge profits for criminal organizations. He stressed that criminal groups are shifting investments and money laundering activities to countries where it is easier to deposit and legalize illegal funds.
The Italian prosecutor also underlined that the continuous crackdowns by Italian justice on criminal assets have led to a decrease in criminal investments in Italy, while a significant portion of the money is trying to move abroad, including to Albania.
He also spoke about the increasing role of Albanian criminal groups in international drug trafficking, especially in relation to the entry of narcotics from Latin America to Europe. According to him, in addition to drug trafficking, money laundering originating from these criminal activities remains a serious concern.
The Italian Chief Prosecutor emphasized that cooperation between SPAK and Italian authorities will continue and be further strengthened, with a focus on cracking down on illegal assets and dismantling criminal networks operating between the two countries.
"In this investigation, we have seized within about six months one million euros in cash destined for Albania. When I say destined for Albania, I mean 640 thousand euros seized in Albania based on DIA's investigative clues, as well as about another 400 thousand euros seized here in Italy, but ready to cross the Adriatic."
What does this mean? It means that the drug trade generates money, generates a lot of money, and continues to generate a lot of money.
It also means that, from the statistics we have because we receive communications from other police forces, investments in Italy are being reduced, because of course the magistrate's crackdown on large criminal assets is very strong, especially in this district, thanks to the Bari Prosecutor's Office.
But this also means that the progressive strengthening of Albanian criminality in this sector is also bringing about large movements of money laundering abroad. It is clear that the money goes where it is easier to deposit and launder.
In Albania, at this moment Vladimir, tell me if it is not so, alongside the emergency of the large-scale drug trafficking that also comes from Latin American countries, there is also the alarm about money laundering.
"We intend to continue in this direction, to strengthen our judicial cooperation and coordination. And in this context, we always present ourselves as serious collaborators, in order to reconstruct the large illegal assets," said the prosecutor.
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