SPAK Chief leads delegation to Brazil to tackle Albanian organized crime
Altin Dumani, the head of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), traveled to Brazil with a delegation to strengthen cooperation with Brazilian law enforcement. Accompanied by key officials Arben Kraja, Adnan Xholi, and Vladimir Mara, Dumani held high-level meetings with Brazilian police and prosecutors to address the growing influence of Albanian criminal groups in South America.
Why is this important: Albanian organized crime networks have expanded their reach across South America, playing a significant role in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine from the region to Europe. This visit highlights international efforts to dismantle these powerful networks. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana broke the news and underscored the importance of this collaboration, given the transnational nature of these criminal enterprises.
The details:
- Purpose of the visit: Dumani’s delegation engaged in discussions aimed at sharing intelligence and developing strategies to disrupt the operations of Albanian gangs deeply embedded in South America. These groups are notorious for moving vast amounts of cocaine from Brazil and neighboring countries into European markets.
- Support and coordination: The visit was facilitated by the Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training Office (OPDAT) and funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The delegation included additional SPAK prosecutors, a National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) investigator, and legal advisors, including an embedded American legal counselor and an FBI agent working with SPAK.
Broader context: Albanian organized crime has established a presence not only in Europe but also in North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. These groups are involved in various illegal activities, including drug, arms, and human trafficking. International media have repeatedly reported on the extensive operations of Albanian gangs in Brazil, emphasizing their critical role in supplying Europe with cocaine.
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