The Belgian federal prosecutor Ann Fransen visited Albania this week to sign a protocol to promote the cooperation against criminal networks, announced the federal prosecutor's office on Friday.
The visit served to update a 2011 protocol and sign a new agreement between the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office and the Albanian general prosecutor’s office.
The bilateral efforts come in response to the rise of Albanian organised crime in recent years, largely related to drug trafficking.
According to the federal public prosecutor's office, the SKY ECC case in Belgium highlighted the significant influence of Albanian criminal organisations on criminal activities within the country and exposed the extreme violence associated with them.
During the visit, Fransen met with counterparts from the SPAK (Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime) and the Albanian general prosecutor’s office.
The visit also served to demonstrate the Belgian prosecutor’s support for Albanian judicial authorities in their fight against corruption and organised crime. The Belgian government’s funds for combating organised drug trafficking financed the visit.
