TIRANA, May 25  /ATA/ Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari stated that Albania has entered a new phase in the fight against organised crime and corruption, focused on dismantling the criminal economy and repurposing confiscated assets to the benefit of citizens.

In his remarks at the conference “From Confiscation to the Public Good”, organised by the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), Lamallari underlined that the fight against crime cannot be limited to arrests and convictions alone, but must also entail depriving criminal organisations of their financial capacity.

“Today we speak of justice, of the state, and of public trust. Organised crime does not only build criminal networks; it generates economic power, fuels corruption, and undermines citizens’ confidence in the state,” the minister said.

He further noted that, during 2025 alone, hundreds of assets worth over €61 million have been seized, while thousands of confiscated and seized properties are currently under administration.

According to Lamallari, these results are evidence of the strength of the institutions and of cooperation between the State Police, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), financial investigation units, and the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK).

The minister emphasized that the challenge does not end with the confiscation of assets, but rather with the manner in which they are repurposed in the public interest.

“Criminal assets must not be neglected or allowed to deteriorate. They should be redirected towards public benefit, invested in services for citizens, and utilised in the service of the community,” he stated.

Lamallari further pointed to specific examples in which confiscated funds and assets have been allocated to support justice institutions, social initiatives, schools, hospitals, and community centres.

“Spaces that once represented illegality are being converted into community centres, spaces for children, and venues for arts and culture. This is the strongest message a democratic state can convey: wealth derived from crime is being transformed into value for citizens,” the minister said.

Focusing on the emerging challenges of financial crime, Lamallari stressed that crypto-assets, cross-border transactions, and modern forms of money laundering require new responses and strong international cooperation.

He also praised the partnership with the European Union, Europol, Eurojust, and partner countries, underlining that Albania remains committed to strengthening the rule of law and European standards in the fight against organised crime.

“A strong state is not merely one that arrests criminals. A strong state is one that deprives crime of its assets, power, and influence within society, and gives back to citizens what has been unjustly taken from them,” Lamallari concluded.

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