Senior officials from Albania’s Special Prosecution Office against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK), the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH), and the State Police are attending alongside law enforcement representatives from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and European Union member states.

Participants are reviewing emerging national and regional trends in illegal drug trafficking and related threats, including money laundering, contract killings, extortion and other forms of serious violence. The seminar provides a platform to share intelligence and best practices, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation and improve joint criminal investigations.

The initiative seeks to boost cross-border collaboration to more effectively counter the operations of domestic and international drug trafficking networks active across the Western Balkans.

Among those attending were Special Prosecutor Altin Dumani, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Nancy VanHorn, OSCE Ambassador to Albania Michael Tarran, and Greek Ambassador Konstantina Kamitsi.

“Drug trafficking is not only a serious crime in itself but also fuels other grave offences such as money laundering, contract killings, extortion and acts of violence,” Tarran said. “These crimes often cross borders, undermining public security, institutional trust and the rule of law.”

He warned that Albania and the wider region face growing challenges from increasingly sophisticated domestic and international trafficking networks. “In this context, regional and international cooperation is not just important—it is essential,” he said, stressing that exchanging up-to-date intelligence on trends and threats is critical for developing effective joint responses.

Tarran added that the OSCE Presence in Albania convened the seminar to build a network of experts, boost collaboration and enhance joint investigations into drug-related crimes in the Western Balkans and beyond.

/gj.m//a.f//r.e/u.sh/