Author: Laurena Kalaja
Date: 04-02-2026
Few global challenges expose the limits of national power as clearly as illicit trade. Criminal networks move faster than legislation, exploit technological change, and thrive in the gaps between jurisdictions, turning borders into opportunities rather than barriers. My Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) examined how European states respond to this reality through cross-border cooperation, focusing on Albania’s collaboration with the United Kingdom and Germany in combating illicit trade and transnational organized crime.
Illicit trade, as defined by the OECD, involves goods and services that threaten communities, economies, and the environment. Its consequences are far-reaching: governments lose vital revenue, legitimate businesses face unfair competition, and consumers are exposed to unsafe products. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these risks by disrupting licit supply chains and accelerating criminal innovation, while digital technologies and encrypted communications further transformed how illicit markets operate.
At the heart of contemporary illicit trade lies its transnational character. Under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), crimes are considered transnational when they involve multiple states, cross-border coordination, or produce substantial effects beyond a single jurisdiction. Drug trafficking routes linking Albania to Western Europe – including the UK and Germany – illustrate how organized crime exploits legal diversity, jurisdictional limits, and uneven enforcement capacities. In this context, international cooperation is not merely beneficial; it is indispensable.
A central focus of my STSMs was the comparison of legal and institutional approaches across different legal traditions. The UK, grounded in a common law system, has developed a comprehensive and adaptive framework to address illicit trade. Legislation such as the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Criminal Finances Act, and the Misuse of Drugs Act is reinforced by specialized institutions, particularly the National Crime Agency (NCA). Even in the post-Brexit landscape, the UK remains deeply engaged in international cooperation through bilateral agreements and third-country arrangements with Europol and Eurojust.
Albania, operating within a civil law tradition, has historically faced significant challenges in combating organized crime, including limited resources and institutional vulnerability. However, my research highlights how Albania’s justice reform, launched in 2016, has fundamentally reshaped its enforcement capacity. The establishment of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure and the National Bureau of Investigation marked a turning point. These institutions have demonstrated tangible results by dismantling criminal networks, prosecuting high-level cases, and confiscating assets – challenging long-standing cultures of impunity.
Crucially, Albania’s progress has been closely linked to international partnerships. Cooperation with the United Kingdom has strengthened investigative and prosecutorial practices through training, intelligence sharing, and technical support. Despite Brexit, joint operations and mutual legal assistance continue to ensure that criminal networks cannot exploit political or institutional transitions. Equally significant is Albania’s partnership with Germany, which has become a cornerstone of both security cooperation and Albania’s path toward European Union integration. Germany’s sustained support – financial, technical, and institutional – has enhanced Albania’s law enforcement capabilities and governance structures.
Germany’s crime prevention architecture, led by institutions such as the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), the Bundespolizei, the Landeskriminalämter, and the Federal Public Prosecutor General, provides a strong counterpart to Albania’s reformed justice system. Joint investigations supported by Europol and Eurojust have dismantled Albanian-led criminal networks operating across Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, exposing illicit operations valued at over €1 billion and highlighting the scale of transnational organized crime.
One of the clearest insights from my STSM is that enforcement alone is not enough. Criminal organizations are adaptive, technologically sophisticated, and deeply embedded in social and economic structures. Effective responses must therefore combine strong legal frameworks with capacity building, judicial independence, advanced technology, and sustained policy development. Investment in digital forensics, cybercrime prevention, and data analytics is now essential, as is continuous training for law enforcement and judicial actors. Prevention also requires confronting the root causes of illicit trade.
Economic exclusion, unemployment, and limited educational opportunities create fertile ground for criminal recruitment. Public awareness campaigns are equally vital, helping communities understand that illicit trade is not a victimless crime but a direct threat to social wellbeing and democratic institutions.
This STSMs contributes to the objectives of the GLITSS COST Action by strengthening comparative research, fostering cross-national dialogue, and supporting capacity building across academic, policy, and practitioner communities. Through lectures, workshops, and ongoing collaboration with universities in the UK, the missions have helped translate research into practice.
In a fragmented and rapidly changing world, illicit trade exploits every legal and political gap it can find. Yet the experiences of Albania, the United Kingdom, and Germany show that coordinated action, institutional trust, and sustained international cooperation can turn those same borders into lines of defense. The fight against illicit trade is ultimately about more than crime control, is about protecting societies, reinforcing the rule of law, and safeguarding Europe’s shared future.
