Financial Crime Investigation Procedures Strengthened in Albania

Enhancing Interagency Cooperation

A recent roundtable discussion brought together representatives from various Albanian law enforcement agencies to enhance interagency cooperation and exchange of information on financial investigations. The event, organized by the Action against Economic Crime in Albania, aimed to strengthen standard operating procedures for such investigations.

Meeting Details

• Date: July 18-19, 2018
• Location: Korçë and Pogradec, Albania
• Participating Agencies:
  • Regional Directorates of the Albanian State Police
  • General Directorate of Taxation
  • General Directorate of Customs
  • General Prosecution Office
  • Several district prosecution offices

Key Discussion Points

• The current legal framework and practical approaches to information exchange and interagency cooperation were discussed.
• Establishing multi-institutional investigative teams to tackle complex financial crimes was emphasized as a key aspect of the discussion.
• Experts from the Council of Europe provided guidance on good international practices, highlighting the need for timely responses and effective data sharing among agencies.

Action Plan

The event also emphasized the need for specialization in staff dealing with financial investigations and identified areas where cooperation could be improved. The Action against Economic Crime in Albania aims to enhance understanding of financial investigations among participants and promote equal development of capacities in this field.

Follow-up Activity

The roundtable is a follow-up activity to previous assistance provided by the joint EU/CoE Horizontal Facility Action against Economic Crime in Albania, focusing on improving interagency cooperation and information exchange to combat financial crime more effectively.