Financial Crime Case Studies in Albania Highlight Country’s Struggle with Corruption

Despite being plagued by high levels of corruption, Albania has taken a bold step towards tackling this issue with the establishment of its special anti-corruption body, Spak. Comprising a special prosecution office, national bureau of investigation, and special courts dealing with corruption and organized crime, Spak has been empowered to fight corruption at the highest levels of government and society.

Significant Achievements

Since its inception, Spak has confiscated assets and cash worth over £100 million in just three years.
Prior to its establishment, few cases of corruption were prosecuted due to widespread bribery and corruption.
With a mandate to take on cases involving corruption of values above ALL50,000 (approximately £385) for public officials and ALL800,000 (approximately £6,400) for public procurement contracts, Spak has made significant strides in charging influential individuals for abusing their public office.

Notable Cases

Several Ministry of Health officials, including the deputy minister, were charged with alleged misuse of £100 million to buy medical equipment.
High-profile convictions include former Attorney General Adriatik Llalla, who received two years in prison for hiding his wealth, and former Minister of Interior Saimir Tahiri, who was sentenced to three years and four months for abuses of power.

Corruption Problem in Albania

Albania’s corruption problem is a long-standing issue, ranking as one of the most corrupt states in Europe according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Studies have shown that corruption is one of the top five problems Albanian citizens face, alongside unemployment, healthcare, security, and education.

Ongoing Support Needed

To continue tackling this issue, Spak will require ongoing support both domestically and internationally. The body has already conducted ten joint investigations with European countries in 2022, including six with Italy but only one with the UK despite Albania’s strong presence in the UK drug market.

Citizen Experience

Citizens are frequently asked to pay bribes when using basic public services, with politics, healthcare, education, police, and civil services being the most susceptible to corruption. Political corruption can take many forms, including illegal party financing, vote buying, political patronage, lobbying, and payment of bribes for favors.

International Pressure

The EU has identified corruption as a key area for reform, and Albania’s inability to fight corruption at the highest levels led to several member states vetoing opening accession talks in 2018-2021. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Spak’s recent record of charging public officials with corruption, the EU officially launched membership talks with Albania in July 2022.

International Cooperation

The US and UK have also taken measures to highlight corruption in Albania, sanctioning and banning entry to several high-level public officials and businesspeople for allegedly engaging in corruption. The majority of Spak investigators are trained at the FBI Academy, while the UK has hosted Spak’s head, Altin Dumani, to develop new partnerships with the Home Office and National Crime Agency.

Conclusion

Spak alone cannot fight corruption, and Albania must make greater efforts to acknowledge the harm it is causing to its future, including driving young people abroad. To improve its society and economy, decrease migration, attract foreign investment, and accelerate EU integration, Albania must develop a strategy that can effectively control corruption.