The 42nd European chapter meeting of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) is being held from Sept. 19-23.

The agenda covers organised crime, terrorism, online extremism, drones, cybercrime, illicit financial flows, asset seizures, narcotics and extraditions.

Senior officials from Albania’s State Police, Special Prosecution Office (SPAK), National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) and prosecutors’ offices are taking part. U.S. participants include FBI Deputy Assistant Director Spencer Horn and FBI legal attaché in Sofia Brendan Collins.

The meeting is examining the Budapest Organized Crime Task Force, marking 25 years of cooperation, as well as the U.S. Joint Terrorism Task Force model for investigating terrorist threats.

A session will focus on the online group “764”, which U.S. authorities have linked to forms of violent extremism and criminal activity, as well as emerging forms of violent extremism and Albania’s experience in addressing them.

FBI Laboratory Division experts will also present technologies used to examine and analyse drones.

Participants will discuss cybercrime, international cooperation against criminal networks, tracing illicit proceeds and the use of seized and confiscated assets for public purposes. BKH investigator Eduart Kaloshi will present a narcotics case investigated by the bureau.

The final day will focus on extraditions, including Albanian procedures, practical challenges and cooperation with other countries.

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In his remarks, Minister Lamallari emphasized that SOCTA 2026 represents the most comprehensive analysis of the threats posed by organized crime, helping law enforcement institutions to better understand criminal trends and build more effective responses to them.

“SOCTA is not just a report. It is the clearest picture of how crime is evolving, of the risks we face today and of the challenges we must address tomorrow,” Lamallari said.

According to the report’s findings, the organized crime groups remain the main threat to security, becoming increasingly flexible, sophisticated and more capable of exploiting technology, finance and international connections to carry out their criminal activities.

Drug trafficking, corruption, money laundering and illegal migration pose serious threats that require a continuous response and broad institutional cooperation.

The minister noted that the report also highlights the increasing importance of cybercrime, warning that attacks on digital systems, online fraud and the use of advanced technologies by criminal groups are creating new challenges for law enforcement institutions.

Another important element of SOCTA 2026 is the identification of environmental crimes as an emerging threat, which according to Lamallari shows that at present there is a broader concept of security directly related to the protection of natural resources, economic development and the well-being of citizens.

Speaking about the response of Albanian institutions to these challenges, the minister stressed that the fight against crime must increasingly rely on criminal intelligence, strategic analysis, information exchange and investments in technology and professional capacities.

“Criminality is evolving, forcing us to move beyond post-crime investigations and focus on predicting, preventing and stopping crimes in their earliest stages”, he declared. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

In a post on social networks, Lamallari emphasized that the strategy aims to build a stronger mechanism for the protection of citizens, strengthening the rule of law and advancing the European integration process.

According to him, the new approach will be based on prevention, intelligence, financial investigations and national and international cooperation.

“Only through dialogue and cooperation can we draft more effective policies that are closer to the needs of the country,” said Lamallari.

The Interior Minister underlined that the fight against organized crime requires a long-term vision, close institutional cooperation and the involvement of all actors in society.

He thanked institutions, experts, international partners, civil society and the media for their contributions and suggestions given in the consultation process. /gj.m/a.f/r.e/p.s./

According to official data, several key institutions received funding with a total value of over 160 million lekë for major projects.

Thus, the General Directorate of the State Police received 28,800,000 lekë for logistical support and material and technical supply, while the General Directorate of Prisons benefited 16,305,380 lekë to improve the conditions of penitentiary administration.

During 2025, 10 million euros were also transferred to the state budget. This transfer constitutes a concrete indicator of the effectiveness of the confiscation mechanisms and the role of the Agency in the recovery of illegal assets in the public interest.

In parallel, investments in the Agency itself were supported with 20 million lekë, aiming to increase the internal administrative and operational capacities of the Agency.

In this context, the Agency is positioning itself as a key actor in the full cycle of fight against organized crime, from the seizure and management of assets, to their reinvestment in the justice and security system. /m.m/p.s./

The minister highlighted in his remarks an old Albanian proverb: “The easy path is a detour to destruction”, relating it to the message of the initiative.

“Today, in a digital age obsessed with ‘overnight’ success, this reminder to honor the process is crucial. Every quick and easy way to success ignoring the law and effort ultimately leads you further away from your dreams,” said Lamallari.

The minister considered the prevention of crime among young people as a priority of the Ministry of Justice’s public policies. According to him, the greatest investment that can be made is to protect the young people from the wrong paths and offer real alternatives for development.

“Our commitment is crystal clear: To build a justice system that intervenes early, that prevents involvement in crime and that offers second chances for those who choose to return to the right way,” the minister emphasized.

Lamallari underlined further on that the world of crime today no longer recruits only on the streets, but also in the digital space, through images of luxury and false narratives of success. It is precisely in this digital space, said the minister, that our response must be with a strong counter-narrative.

He also mentioned the construction of the Institute for the Education and Rehabilitation of Juveniles, in Mëzez, as a major investment in juvenile justice, with 7 multidisciplinary facilities, according to the French model.

He further praised the cooperation with the OSCE and the Center for the Prevention of Crime for Juveniles and Youth, considering the campaign an investment in the culture of legality and in strengthening the trust of young people in institutions. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Internal Affairs Albana Koçiu, together with the team of the Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets, visited a two-story villa obtained from the criminal activity, which at present functions as a safe haven for victims of violence and human trafficking.

This model proves that illegally obtained assets can be restored into the service of society, transforming into concrete support for the most vulnerable categories.

By 2025, there have been implemented over 15 similar projects; there have been supported more than 20 institutions and there have been directly assisted around 300 victims of violence and trafficking, through protection, rehabilitation and reintegration services.

During the visit, Minister Koçiu stated that these assets represent a real opportunity to be turned into social and public services for the benefit of the community.

She emphasized that the two-story villa creates opportunities for the “Different, Equal” association to provide services to women and children victims of domestic violence or trafficking.

The minister underlined that the institutions will continue to work to return any illegally obtained assets into the service of the community, following all legal procedures.

Koçiu also praised the important role of associations that provide social services, emphasizing that support for them is necessary, which is also evidenced by the high number of beneficiaries. According to her, the location of these centers is also essential, as services must be provided in safe, discreet and protected environments, to guarantee the well-being and privacy of beneficiaries. /gj.m/r.e/p.s./

According to Balla, at a time when the fight against wildfires throughout the country is still ongoing, such episodes of starting fires in forests and pastures can lead to even more serious situations, endangering the lives of local residents or surrounding homes.

Minister Balla stated that, “Such acts, even when they happen unwillingly, should be considered a serious crime”.

The situation of the wildfires is under daily monitoring. And there is a coordination of work between the Armed Forces, firefighting teams, and local teams, as well as from the allied countries, which remain engaged 24 hours a day. /e.i//a.f/p.s./

Ambassador Abbott in his video message said that, “The partnership between the two countries focuses on three areas: Strengthening border security and institutional resilience; expanding intelligence sharing and joint operations; targeting criminal finance through asset seizure and recovery.”

The teams visited Kosovo-Albania border, where UK and Albanian officers work side by side using the latest technology to combat money laundering, tackle drug trafficking and protect our citizens.

British Ambassador Nick Abbott also stressed that, “By combining our expertise and resources, we are making it harder than ever for criminals to act. This is about achieving concrete results, seizing assets, disrupting networks and protecting our citizens.”/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Addressing a meeting of the Committee on Compliance with the Obligations and Commitments of Council of Europe Member States in Tirana, Balla affirmed the Albanian government’s commitment to tackling these issues.

The State Minister emphasized that the judicial reform and vetting were essential for improving the integrity, independence, and efficiency of the justice system, underlining that new justice bodies, namely the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) and the National Investigation Bureau are delivering significant results in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

However, Balla noted that a lot of work remains to be done despite the country’s progress.

“CoE has been instrumental to the judicial and human rights reforms we have launched against corruption. While we celebrate the progress we’ve made, we know there’s still work to do and we are aware of the challenges ahead of us,” Balla said.

He underlined that creation of the Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption in January, clearly shows government’s strong commitment to tackle the issues of corruption at all levels of public administration.

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During the Regional Forum on Good Governance and the Fight against Corruption, which was held in Tirana, Dumani said that SPAK is committed to continue the uninterrupted efforts in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

These 5 years since the start of SPAK’s operation, Dumani emphasized, have confirmed that SPAK has the capacities and skills to exercise criminal prosecution against various entities, regardless of their political or public profile, as well as against high profiles of organized crime.

He spoke about tangible results in the fight against organized crime, where there have been carried out criminal proceedings against persons who until yesterday were not even thought to be affected. This, according to him, is also thanks to cooperation with partner agencies.

The wealth created by crime has not remained either out of the focus of SPAK thanks to the good legislation available, said Dumani.

“We have managed to seize and confiscate as products of the criminal offense or assets of criminal origin, values ​​that go up to 150 million euros and the diversity of assets seized or confiscated is very diverse”, he emphasized.

At the same time, Dumani emphasized that international cooperation is also a priority.

“The extent of crime and corruption, given that part of the money is transferred abroad, makes it vital to cooperate with the counterpart agencies of the countries of the region, the EU and beyond. We have currently created 35 joint investigative teams,” he said./r.e//a.f/p.s./