AAPSK at the meeting of the Subcommittee for justice, freedom and security.
February 11, 2025
Chief Administrator of AAPSK: Increase in confiscated assets, progress in the fight against illegality The Chief Administrator of the Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), Ms. Risena Xhaja, participated today, on 11.02.2025, in the 16th meeting of the Subcommittee “Justice, Freedom and Security” between the Albanian and EU authorities, in the […]
Chief Administrator of AAPSK: Increase in confiscated assets, progress in the fight against illegality
The Chief Administrator of the Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), Ms. Risena Xhaja, participated today, on 11.02.2025, in the 16th meeting of the Subcommittee “Justice, Freedom and Security” between the Albanian and EU authorities, in the framework of the accession negotiations.
The meeting was opened by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Ervin Hoxha, while also present were the Head of the Enlargement Unit at the European Commission, Ms. Sigrid Brettel, the Head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, the Prosecutor General Olsian Çela, the Head of the BKH Aida Hajnaj, representatives of the Parliament and other senior officials of law enforcement agencies in the country.
In her speech at the event, the Chief Administrator of the AAPSK emphasized the importance of seizing and confiscating illegally obtained assets as a crucial aspect in the fight against organized crime. She also highlighted the need for cooperation with international counterparts and with European Union structures.
“By working closely with experts in this sector and also with counterpart agencies in other countries, we are able to share valuable knowledge, increase our expertise and improve asset management. This cooperation has enabled us to learn from their experience, reassess our processes and make the best use of the resources we have at our disposal, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the fight against organized crime,” said Ms. Xhaja.
She emphasized that one of the most tangible signs of progress made in the fight against organized crime is the significant increase in assets seized and confiscated.
“This growing number is a clear reflection of the progress we have made in targeting illicit assets and ensuring that criminals no longer benefit from their activities,” said the Chief Administrator of the AAPSK.
Ms. Xhaja stated that the AAPSK ensures that, once assets are seized or confiscated, they are managed properly and transparently, with a focus on preserving and restoring their value in the service of the community, through various projects, as well as a special fund for crime prevention. In focus are the support of families of fallen officers, funding for the general directorate of the State Police and the Prosecutor’s Office, rehabilitation and social empowerment of victims of trafficking, the use of confiscated assets in the service of the community, etc.
The Chief Administrator of AAPSK stated that the institution she leads will contribute to strengthening legal systems, further improving institutional capacities, and deepening cooperation with international counterparts to ensure that criminal assets are not only seized, but ultimately confiscated and used for the benefit of the community.
Speech by the Chief Administrator of the AAPSK, Ms. Risena Xhaja, at the 16th meeting of the Subcommittee “Justice, Freedom and Security”
Honored guests,
It is a pleasure and a special responsibility for me to speak today on an essential aspect of the fight against organized crime, the seizure and confiscation of illegally obtained assets. This is a powerful tool, not only to punish criminal activities, but also to restore justice and prevent the further strengthening of criminal groups.
I would like to share with you the significant progress that Albania has made in recent years in pursuing and fighting organized crime, corruption and the illicit flow of finances that often fuel these activities.
We consider the development of a structure that enables us to identify, trace and recover assets that have been illegally obtained to be real progress. We are also creating a strategy to inform the community and to always be transparent in the way this structure reacts and manages these assets.
While working on the further development of our institutions, against crime in every aspect, in the framework of approximation with EU directives, our continuous cooperation with international counterparts is very important. By working closely with experts in this sector and also with counterpart agencies in other countries, we are able to share valuable knowledge, increase our expertise and improve asset management. This cooperation has enabled us to learn from their experience, re-evaluate our processes and make the best use of the resources we have at our disposal, ensuring that we remain at the forefront in the fight against organized crime.
Some of the main issues that have been taken into consideration by the agency:
- Changing the legal framework, especially regarding the manner and institutions competent for the sale of seized and/or confiscated properties.
- Recategorizing the Agency and changing its structure
- The Internal Regulations and Code of Ethics have been approved, which mainly focus on the conflict of interest for administrators and the assets they administer.
- The Manual of Procedures of the agency’s work practices, which will be ready in March of this year.
- Public Information Systems (Opening the official website of the AAPSK, which is now managed by the AAKSH, opening the agency’s social networks and public awareness campaigns)
- Access to Cryptocurrencies.