SPAK chief Altin Dumani held high-level meetings in US on tackling international crime
The head of Albania’s Special Prosecution Office (SPAK), Altin Dumani, concluded a visit to the United States, where he held meetings in Washington on September 2–3 with officials from the State Department, Department of Justice, and FBI. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation with US law enforcement against international criminal organizations, particularly drug trafficking and money laundering.
Why is this important: Albania faces scrutiny for organized crime groups operating across borders. Strengthened ties with US agencies are seen as key to bolstering SPAK’s capacity to tackle drug trafficking, financial crime, and corruption.
Context: Prior to his Washington meetings, Dumani attended the DEA International Drug Enforcement Conference in Nashville from August 26–28. There he met DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, with both sides highlighting the value of existing cooperation and the importance of expanding it.
The conference, themed “Global Unity for a Safer Future: Strengthening Alliances Against Transnational Crime,” was opened by US Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi. Dumani also met with law enforcement leaders from participating countries, where discussions focused on creating new communication channels and reinforcing joint action against drug trafficking.
What else: SPAK noted that Dumani expressed gratitude for the United States’ continuous support and underlined the strategic importance of this partnership. The agency emphasized that international cooperation will remain central to Albania’s fight against organized crime and its justice reform process.
Next steps: SPAK is expected to build further on the agreements and contacts made during the visit, with the US remaining its closest ally in strengthening law enforcement and anti-crime efforts.
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