“Comment is free, but facts are sacred.” — C. P. Scott, 1921.
“Dirty money is distorting Albanian society”
Erblin Vukaj · Originally published: 21 July 2025
Illicit money and the economy
In an interview for the investigative documentary “No Rules, No Borders”, economic expert Vehap Kola examines the profound and often invisible impact of dirty money on Albania’s economy and society.
According to Kola, despite the strategies and laws adopted, money laundering remains a major threat to the country’s economy. He observes that almost half the economy is informal, with a substantial part of it fuelled by funds of criminal origin.
“The grey economy is tolerating a strong influence from illicit money. Construction, tourism and trade are particularly exposed. The consequences are serious not only for the market but also for the moral fabric of society,” he says.
Kola condemns the way market competition is being overturned by illicit capital, which allows some players to dominate entire sectors while excluding honest businesses. He warns of the consequences of creating monopolies and eliminating opportunities for honest success.
“The destruction of values is just as harmful as the destruction of the market. When success is tied to moral compromise, when the shortest route to wealth is collaboration with crime, society becomes a distorted system,” Kola stresses.
Politics, justice and civil society
A substantial part of the interview focuses on construction, a sector that has become a symbol of money laundering in Albania. But, according to Kola, it is only the tip of the iceberg:
“The largest-scale money laundering takes place in political parties. When they are captured, every other sector reflects the same model.”
Assessing the role of the justice system and civil society, Kola expresses scepticism about their current effectiveness, stressing that “the media, the justice system and civil society are often in the orbit of political parties”.
He calls for concrete action independent of these compromised structures.
As for international pressure, he believes it is useful in terms of public image but not always effective in bringing about fundamental change. According to him, “real change comes only when there is domestic pressure and when the cost of involvement in criminal activities becomes very high”.
Finally, Vehap Kola sees a risk that Albania could slide into a situation resembling that of Latin American countries. He calls for reflection and action: “If we do not tell the stories of those who are suffering the consequences, this reality will become normalised.”