Abstract
Organized crime in Albania, especially in cultivating and trafficking narcotics, is still a matter of concern. Matter of concern is also money laundry derived from narcotics trafficking. Despite the fact that the Albanian Government has undertaken several measures (legislative measures, strategies and action plans), we are still facing with this issue. Based on statistics, it is shown that the tense economic and politic situation in a country contributes to increasing the level of crime. In Albania the organized crime consists in criminal groups and not in mafia organizations as in many other countries. However Albania has been considered country of origin and transit (mainly toward Italy and Greece) of narcotics. But as long as trafficking of narcotics includes more than one country, then this is an issue not only of Albania to deal with. So, the fight should be in an international level in order to be effective. According the Interior Ministry, Albania since 2014 is not in the list of origin country for cultivating and trafficking narcotics. This paper treats and tries to give some conclusions regarding the actual situation in fighting the cultivation and trafficking of narcotics, and conclusions regarding the obstacles and failures in preventing such crimes, such as involvement of police and other officials, the effectiveness of used methods of investigation and finding the authors. There is a Bureau of International Issues on Narcotics created and assisted by US Department of State, implementation of law, increasing the capacities and effectiveness in criminal proceedings and in trainings of competent bodies and state employees. There has been an enforcement of technology and infrastructure capacities. This paper is based on official records from annual reports of international organizations and bodies. The methods used in this paper are statistical, comparative, and legal method. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n3s1p379
Highlights
The origins of organized crime in Albania have been recorded in the period of change from the totalitarian in the pluralistic system
The transition from a system of total control by the state, with a harsh penal policy, toward fragile democratic system was associated with weak institutions and officials without sufficient education and experience
The cultivation of the cannabis plant in Albania has begun for the first time in 1992
Summary
The origins of organized crime in Albania have been recorded in the period of change from the totalitarian in the pluralistic system. The situation created in 1997 and the social and financial consequences caused by the collapse of pyramid schemes have been another key moment in the creation of favorable conditions for the development of organized crime in the country. This paper treats the organized crime in Albania, its development and internal structure of criminal groups as well as the features and the factors that encourage organized crime. The focus is on the crimes related to drugs (cannabis sativa, heroin, cocaine, and synthetic drugs) and on forms of trafficking. It is presented the Albania's role as a source, transit, and consuming country of illicit narcotics. There are provided some statistical data for narcotics trafficking among other crimes that are the fruit of organized crime, given the decisions of the Albanian courts
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