The investigative journalist Artan Hoxha, confessed some of the most incredible cases of his career to the next episode of ‘Bahiti’s Podcast’.

He unveiled some of the untold stories of the criminal and unknown world in Albania, how it began, how it evolved, how it was organized, its connection with politics, business and the international mafia.

He also revealed some of his passions, hobbies that accompany him to this day.

One of the questions of interest from moderator Anisa Bahiti was how crime has evolved in Albania.

Artan Hoxha has given a broad overview of the origin and development of this phenomenon. He emphasized that everything started after year 1997, with the collapse of the state and the massive distribution of weapons. At that moment, the territory fell into the hands of groups that initially organized themselves as local defense, but very quickly transformed into well-structured criminal gangs.

“First smuggling, then human trafficking, document trafficking, prostitution and finally drugs,” says Hoxha. “In the 2000s, these groups seized control of entire neighborhoods, cities and streets throughout Albania. Then, political parties used them to get votes. First one side, then the other side.”

This mutual cooperation between crime and politics led to what Hoxha clearly defines: “There is no city with a single gang.” In every Albanian city, there are two main gangs – one affiliated with one party, the other with the other party. This duality creates a kind of “fearful equilibrium,” where neither side dares to get out of control without consequences.
This situation has brought not only instability, but also a silent form of parallel state, where real control is no longer in the hands of institutions, but in the hands of those who have the "territory and weapons."