Albania’s Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) announced today the seizure of at least $10 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to two brothers from Elbasan, Franc and Hajdar Çopja, alleged leaders of one of the country’s most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations.
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The Çopja Group’s Criminal Enterprise
The Çopja criminal network came under significant scrutiny in late July 2024 when 33 arrest warrants were issued. Of these, 13 were executed within Albania, and two suspects had already been detained abroad. However, the majority of the suspects had fled the country.
Hajdar Çopja is believed to be in Dubai, where his brother Franc also resided until 2023, before being extradited to Belgium. Both brothers are suspected of involvement in multiple murders, attempted murders, money laundering, and the infamous theft of €10 million on the tarmac of Rinas Airport in 2019.
Extensive Asset Seizures
In addition to the cryptocurrency assets, numerous bank accounts and dozens of real estate properties—many held under the names of associates—were confiscated in earlier operations. These properties include companies, luxury villas, and apartments in some of Tirana’s most expensive neighborhoods, as well as vast tracts of land extending from the capital to various coastal areas.
Among those arrested in July 2024 were Bashkim Lika and Maklen Mici, owners of a currency exchange office in central Tirana. They are accused of providing financial services to the Çopja organization. At the time, Europol described one of the detained individuals as a “key figure in money laundering based in Tirana,” who had offered services to high-level international criminal groups involved in murders, corruption, and large-scale drug trafficking.
International Cooperation and New Money Laundering Methods
Subsequent investigations led to another major operation involving law enforcement agencies from six countries. This operation dismantled a criminal network that functioned as an underground bank, facilitating the circulation and laundering of illicit drug trafficking proceeds and other serious crimes.
Europol emphasized in its statement that the Albanian detainee had “facilitated the transfer of large sums of money through cryptocurrencies.” This innovative method of money laundering has reportedly been adopted not only by Albanian criminal groups but also by other international organizations, signaling a concerning trend in the use of digital assets for illicit activities.
Broader Implications
The case highlights the growing role of cryptocurrencies in the global criminal economy and underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating organized crime. Albania’s recent actions, in partnership with global institutions, demonstrate a significant step forward in targeting the financial underpinnings of criminal organizations, particularly those leveraging new technologies to evade detection.