Brothers and Clients: Heroin, Turkey and the Making of the Albanian “Mafia”

Despite the growing prominence of Albanian organized crime in global illicit activities, little investigation has been done into the origins of the Albanian "mafia" and its relationship with other criminal groups. This research investigates the history of Albanian involvement in drug smuggling and distribution networks based in Turkey and their role in the European heroin trade. Through archival studies of recently declassified documents and drawing on Albanian and Turkish media, the project contextualizes drug trafficking networks in Turkey by examining Albanian migration, identity issues and diaspora communities.

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Ryan Gingeras, of the Naval Postgraduate School, was a 2012 Regional Policy Symposium participant.