22/04/2024
The prosecutors' offices of both States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that lays the groundwork for a closer and more effective partnership between the two institutions.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Albania (SPAK) and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Kingdom of Spain has been an important milestone in the fight against organized crime at the international level. This agreement, based on principles of equality, respect and mutual benefit, establishes a solid framework for collaboration and information exchange between the two institutions.
The Organized Crime Index reveals that Albania is a key transit country for cocaine trafficked from Latin America to Europe. Albanian criminal groups are involved in the trafficking, storage and distribution of these drugs in the European Union, including Spain. These groups use money laundering to move their illicit proceeds between countries, so close international collaboration is essential to identify and confiscate these assets. In this framework, the signing of the Memorandum represents a strong commitment to intensify cooperation and facilitate relations with other law enforcement agencies at the national and international level.
This action is framed in the context of the project EU4FOCAL: Fight against organized crime in Albania, where FIIAPP collaborates in areas of financial investigations related to organized criminal groups. The objective of this signature is to facilitate the exchange of information and the creation of working groups that will increase the effectiveness of collaboration, design common strategies and establish joint investigative operations.
Both parties have committed to take immediate steps to address these challenges and develop sustainable and effective cooperation in the fight against organized crime, in compliance with international commitments and for the benefit of our societies.
The Spanish Attorney General, Mr. Alvaro Garcia Ortiz, praised the efforts of the Albanian authorities to improve the effectiveness of their fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, which are already yielding positive results. Mr. García Ortiz also reaffirmed the support and dedication of the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office to the Albanian authorities in their fight against crime, especially organized crime, with the aim of strengthening mutual trust as a solid basis for our present and future cooperation.
