FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Former prosecutor Ervin Karanxha has criticized the way the justice system has handled issues of drug trafficking and money laundering.
He stated that many of the files being investigated today are related to events that occurred 7-8 years ago, calling this an indicator of a lack of timely response.
According to him, delays in investigations have brought consequences not only for the fight against crime, but also for citizens and legitimate investors.
"As we have in recent hearings, President Trump, the Trump administration has a different approach to drugs. So, cartels, and drugs and drug trafficking and the proceeds that come from drugs have been treated as terrorist acts and the proceeds that come from terrorist acts have a special priority.
In Albania, for the sake of truth, there have been problems related to drug trafficking. But we are finding that the criminal prosecution bodies in Albania have mainly proceeded for old events. For example, the street meeting that is being discussed is from 2018, 2019, so 7-8 years ago. Even the files that are currently being investigated are old files.
The question arises, why were these criminal cases not prosecuted earlier? However, I am in favor of the fact that when a person is prosecuted, there must be evidence. There must be reasonable suspicion and evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
So this evidence was there and it was not processed. Or there was no evidence and now, with the same dough, so to speak, we are making pies again. What actions have been taken? Because something that came from outside cannot be called an investigative action.
"However, in the field of drug trafficking, we have a poor job from the criminal prosecution bodies, because proceedings should be initiated from the beginning, not when the consequences come," said the prosecutor.
According to the former prosecutor, the lack of timely investigations has caused the effects of drug trafficking to spread throughout the economy, while subsequent asset seizures also affect citizens who have invested with legal income.
"Because now, in the domestic market, the connection of money coming from narcotics with investments brings serious consequences.
You, along with the suspicious money, also block investments where there could be honest citizens. So you harm the country's economy, because drug money is introduced into the business, but you also harm those who are legal investors in a building. When you seize a building, you seize the whole thing and the violation of the interests of Albanians is evident.
So, in addition to the damage caused by drug money, those who are legal investors are also harmed. What do we mean by legal investors? Those who have worked their entire lives abroad, in Greece or Italy, have secured legal income and have bought an apartment. Now they are asked to prove everything, while their property remains blocked.
"So we also have consequences for citizens, because this money comes from drugs, while the latest seizures are related to old files, from 2019 and 2020," he added.
Asked about the results in the fight against money laundering and the role of SPAK, Karanxha stated that this criminal offense requires specialized investigations and strong evidence, adding that the removal of experienced magistrates has negatively affected the efficiency of the system.
"The criminal offense of money laundering is not only investigated by SPAK, but also by prosecutors of general jurisdiction. It is a criminal offense that presents its own dynamics and is very difficult to prove, because evidence is needed. Proof is one thing and suspicion is another.
This requires work and specialists to deal with the lack of justification for the money in an investment. When an investment is made, the source of the money and the difference must be seen, that is, where those funds were obtained. This is what must be proven, but this requires work, words are not enough.
"One of the reasons for the decline in results in the field of money laundering is the departure of magistrates and professionals from the system. They had years of experience in criminal prosecution and knew well how these criminal offenses are investigated," Karanxha concluded.
Vetem Kur e nigjon tu fol neper studio kete gjoja ish prokuror tregon nivelin se ku ndodhet sistemi i drejtesise