Albanian mafia gaining influence in Belgium
The Albanian mafia is becoming increasingly influential in Belgium, according to an investigation by Knack conducted in collaboration with Le Soir and RTBF. The investigation examined the involvement of Albanian suspects in Belgian judicial cases between 2020 and 2026.
More than 2,000 Albanian suspects appear in ongoing investigations by the Federal Judicial Police. According to François Farcy, Judicial Director of Liège, the phenomenon has evolved significantly over the past 25 years. Whereas Albanian groups were previously linked mainly to burglaries and small-scale cocaine trafficking, they are now involved in large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering.
Frédéric Van Leeuw, President of the College of Prosecutors General, said Albanian criminal organisations have specialised 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. According to investigators, these networks operate in an increasingly structured manner and can be compared with organisations such as the 'Ndrangheta or Mexican cartels.
Authorities say profits from criminal activities are often channelled back to Albania and invested in sectors such as construction, real estate and tourism. The Federal Police also report signs of infiltration into the legal economy in Belgium.
Police generally refer to "Albanophone criminal organisations", as these networks often include suspects from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and other countries in the region. According to investigators, these groups are frequently organised around family ties and longstanding relationships of trust.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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