The first Albanian groups come to Western Europe,
also in Belgium, after the fall of Enver Hoxha`s regime. During the nineties,
an Albanian criminal circle expands discreetly in the Belgian big cities (Brussels
and Antwerp) as it did in the European big cities of Italy, Switzerland and
Germany notably.
With the war in Ex-Yugoslavia, the fall of the financial
system in Albania, the uncontrolled migration of Albanians (from Albania, Kosovo
and Macedonia) surges to a maximum in 1998-1999 during the war in Kosovo. Aware
of the situation the Albanian organized criminality infiltrates Europe and Belgium
in a more perceptible manner.
As reported by the national and specialized media
its primary activities are the trade of human beings (THB), the prostitution
and the drug smuggling toward Western Europe, with Great Britain being frequently
the end destination.
In Belgium, the Albanian mafia sets up business first in the big cities (Brussels,
Antwerp and Liège) where it takes control of the prostitution, sometimes
in a brutal and violent way.
These last years, particularly since 1999-2000 following the afflux of immigrants
during the Kosovo war, this mafia diversifies its activities towards organized
hold-ups, drug and firearms smuggling and racket.
Henceforth present in the Belgian big cities, the Albanian mafia in full development
and to quote Karl Marx "in full primary accumulation of capital" extends
its hold over new territories infiltrating other regions of the state.