TIRANA, Feb. 5 – Following growing concern over crime in Albania, a political debate between the government and the opposition has been growing on how to best deal with criminals and crime syndicates.
The debate comes as arrests have taken place last week of people charged with multiple murders as part of a crime syndicate that used explosives against their targets, including business competitors and senior political.
Interior Ministry Saimir Tahiri said this week the government is determined to fight any type of crime, whether street crime, organized crime or corruption. Tahiri also said the issue remains one of the key elements in the process of Albania’s bidding for the membership of the European Union.
However, the opposition Democratic Party has accused the government of weakening the state police, failing to bring down what it says is a growing crime rate.
The Democrats are also unhappy leftist governing coalition did not agree to create an investigative parliamentary commission on the matter.
Police cite successful arrests
The police say they have dismantled an infamous criminal gang that performed contract killings of a mafia-style nature.
They have arrested Julian Sinanaj, who police say has admitted to allegedly killing a number of people in Albania using explosives and other weapons.
Police have also arrested a businessman, who is accused of asking Sinanaj to kill one of his competitors with whom he had been in a business conflict. The businessman is in jail, but he said during his preliminary hearing in front of a judge that he is innocent.
Police also arrested Tuesday another person who is also accused of being a gun for hire, using explosives to kill people.
Police have also set a reward of 10,000 euros for each for two brothers wanted for coordinating Sinanaj’s murder for hire business.
Regional approach to fighting trafficking proposed
Authorities also say drug trafficking remains a top issue for the country, and the interior ministry said this week it would try to be part of a regional approach to fight trafficking.
Tahiri sent a letter to his Italian and Greek counterparts inviting them to a meeting in Tirana where they could discuss creating a triangle in the fight against organized crime.
Tahiri said that Albanian criminal groupings are cooperating closely with the counterparts in Italy and Greece, creating a dangerous triangle in human and drugs trafficking.
“Increasing the efforts in a more integrated way through law enforcement in the three countries will serve to further intensify our relations and the inter-boundary regional security,” wrote Tahiri.
