UK and Albania sign a regional-first asset sharing arrangement

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.

• İngiltere ile Arnavutluk arasında suç gelirlerinin paylaşımında bir ilk

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

source: GOV