A new agreement between the UK and Albania marks the first
agreement of its kind in the Western Balkans region and sets a
new precedent for international co-operation on asset recovery
and serious organised crime.
The arrangement was approved in a formal ceremony in Tirana on 13
July 2026, attended by Nicholas Abbott, His Majesty's Ambassador
to Albania, alongside Risena Xhaja, chief administrator of
Albania's Agency for the Management of Seized and Confiscated
Property (AAPSK).
It is the result of months of close collaboration between UK and
Albanian law enforcement and judiciary, supported by the Home
Office, the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Crown Prosecution
Service (CPS), and AAPSK.
The arrangement relates to a concluded prosecution for conspiracy
to supply cannabis to organised crime groups in the England &
Wales jurisdiction. Following asset recovery efforts by UK and
Albanian authorities working together, proceeds of crime were
successfully identified and recovered in Albania.
Under the arrangement, the recovered proceeds from this case will
be split equally between the 2 countries, demonstrating that UK
and Albanian authorities will pursue the proceeds of serious
organised crime across borders. The arrangement paves the way for
the seized assets to be reinvested for social good in both
nations.
An ongoing strengthening of bilateral
cooperation
The arrangement reflects the UK's longstanding commitment to
tackling the serious organised crime networks that cause
significant harm in the UK. Seizing and sharing the proceeds of
criminality is a central part of the UK Government's strategy for
disrupting criminal business models and reducing the incentives
to commit organised crime targeting the UK.
The UK has worked closely with Albanian authorities to strengthen
their capacity and capability to investigate and prosecute
serious organised crime, including addressing money laundering
and the increasing use of cryptocurrency by criminal networks.
The UK has provided software and capability training to support
Albania's response, and in 2025 chaired the Berlin Process
Illicit Finance event, which focused on asset recovery across the
Western Balkans. The UK also continues to support the ongoing
review of Albania's Anti-Money Laundering legislation.
The scale of the threat
Serious organised crime continues to pose significant challenges
for both the UK and Albania, with criminal networks exploiting
border vulnerabilities and laundering proceeds through cash,
informal transfer systems, and cryptocurrency. As a reflection of
the scale of the challenge, both governments are committed to
working together to disrupt these networks, protect their
communities, and ensure that crime does not pay.
Tackling the criminal business model
AAPSK
has significantly increased the revenue gained from seized and
confiscated assets over the last two years, demonstrating the
growing capacity of both nations to act against criminal
finances. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the value of seized
assets surpassed 58 million, including over 1,000 real estate
seizures and confiscations, reflecting the extent to which the
real estate sector is being abused to launder criminal proceeds.
Background
- the asset sharing arrangement was initiated at a formal
ceremony in Tirana on 13 July 2026, attended by His Majesty's
Ambassador Nicholas Abbott and Risena Xhaja, chief administrator
of AAPSK
- the arrangement was formally completed and signed in the UK
on 6 August 2026
- the agreement is the first of its kind in the Western Balkans
region
- the initial arrangement covers £54,000 in recovered real
estate assets, to be split equally between the UK Government and
AAPSK
- in Q1 2025, the value of assets seized and confiscated in
Albania surpassed 58 million, including over 1,000 real estate
seizures
- partners involved include the Home Office, the National Crime
Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service and AAPSK
