SPAK seizes €9.3M assets over tobacco smuggling

Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutors have seized 21 assets worth more than €9.3 million in a major crackdown on cigarette smuggling linked to an organized crime group.

The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) said the assets — including luxury villas, high-rise apartments, and parking facilities — were tied to the company Albania Tabak Fabrika e Re e Cigareve, controlled by businessman Ergys Agasi.

The Librazhd-based factory, producing millions of “Kleopatra” brand cigarettes, is suspected of illegally funneling large quantities to Egypt, bypassing official distributors and causing huge losses to the original Egyptian brand owner.

The scheme was first flagged by UK customs in 2015, prompting investigations across Europe. SPAK’s probe uncovered links to offshore companies in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands allegedly managing the smuggling network.

SPAK said the seized assets are suspected proceeds of smuggling and related corruption offenses.