Head of the Special Prosecution of Albania visits Brussels: Coordinated response against criminal networks

The Head of the Special Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption, Altin Dumani, while concluding his visit to Brussels last week, represented Albania at a trilateral meeting for the first time among high-ranking officials from the European Union, Latin America, and the Western Balkans, focused on the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.

More than 100 participants took part in the event organized by the European Commission, including representatives from 18 EU member states.

Dumani emphasized the concrete results of SPAK, achieved in cooperation with international partners and EU Agencies, in identifying and analyzing encrypted communications used to coordinate illegal activities.

This cooperation has led to significant arrests in Albania and across Europe, as well as to the dismantling of cross-border criminal groups, including those with links to Latin America.

Meanwhile, the European Union delegation in Tirana, while announcing Dumani’s meeting, echoed his message that only a coordinated response can yield results against criminal networks operating globally. According to the EU delegation, this message was strongly reinforced by both EU representatives and other participants.

They agreed on the need for even closer judicial and police cooperation, including intelligence sharing, financial investigations and analysis, as well as joint work in joint investigative teams.

During this visit, a meeting was also organized at one of the main policy institutes in Brussels, the European Policy Centre, where Dumani was present along with Giulio Venneri, Deputy Head of the Unit for Enlargement Strategy and Coordination in the Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG ENEST), where the key role of SPAK in the justice reform and Albania’s European integration process was highlighted.

Dumani emphasized the development of SPAK as a model institution for justice reform in Albania, built on independence, professionalism, institutional stability, international cooperation, and public trust. “Systemic transformation is possible when a society chooses integrity over cynicism and when institutions are built not for political convenience, but for public service,” he stated.

Venneri underscored that the increasing results of SPAK, built on concrete achievements, strengthening of technical capacities, and close cooperation with international partners, constitute an important contribution to enhancing Albania’s credibility in the EU membership process. “When countries seriously implement reforms, the EU also responds accordingly,” said Venneri. (November 27)