Investigation: Albanian mafia's influence growing in Belgium

Albanian mafia organizations are significantly increasing their influence within Belgium, according to an investigation by the Knack Institute. The research, which examined the involvement of Albanian suspects in Belgian court cases between 2020 and 2026, found over 2,000 Albanian suspects implicated in ongoing federal judicial police investigations.

François Farcy, director of the Liège judiciary, noted that this phenomenon has developed substantially over the past 25 years. While Albanian groups were previously primarily associated with burglaries and small-scale cocaine trafficking, they are now deeply involved in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering operations.

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The phenomenon has significantly developed in the last 25 years.

Frederik Van Leeuw, president of the Association of Public Prosecutors, stated that Albanian criminal organizations have specialized in logistical services. They play a crucial role in transporting drugs and cash, establishing drug laboratories, and procuring chemicals. Investigators observe that these networks operate in an increasingly structured manner, drawing comparisons to organizations like Italy's 'Ndrangheta or Mexican cartels.

Belgian authorities report that profits from criminal activities are frequently repatriated to Albania and invested in sectors such as construction, real estate, and tourism. The police generally refer to these as "Albanian-speaking criminal organizations" because these networks often include suspects from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and other countries in the region. Investigators highlight that these groups are frequently organized around family ties and long-standing relationships of trust.

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Albanian criminal organizations have specialized in logistical services. They play a key role in the transport of drugs and cash, the establishment of drug laboratories, and the procurement of chemicals.