In the past 20 years, criminal groups from Western Balkans have established a stronghold in South America. This positioned them as key players in European cocaine wholesale markets. However, their activities have also left a trail of blood behind. Read more:

globalinitiative.net/wp-content/u...

Global Initiative's Conference Room A Talk by Sasa Djordjevic, Fatjona Mejdini & Renato Rivera

Tomorrow at 2 PM (CEST), I’ll launch the report Cocaine Connections: Links Between the WB and SA. It explores the history and evolution of the presence of Balkan criminals in South America the current challanges and future considerations. Register below to join!

gitoc.heysummit.com/talks/cocain...

In Albania, he will face charges for the 1998 murder of two policemen and a 2020 ordering of an abduction that resulted in the death of the victim, in addition to drug trafficking charges. His extradition was also sought by Italy, while his criminal activities spanned several countries.

He is considered one of the pioneers of Albanian traffickers' involvement in LatAm. "Kompania Bello" is believed to have trafficked cocaine from LatAm worth over 140 million euros in just two years.

🧵Turkish authorities extradited today to Albania the notorious drug trafficker, 45 yo. Dritan Rexhepi, one of the leaders of so-called "Kompania Bello." He was arrested in Istanbul on Nov 23 after fleeing house arrest in Ecuador. Previously, he escaped from 3 prisons in Europe.

In Kosovo, Christian Converts Hope to Revive a Pre-Islamic Past Christian converts in Kosovo, where the vast majority of people are Muslim, hope to revive a pre-Islamic past they see as a key to their European identity.

It's a pleasure to co-author this article in The New York Times about conversions to Catholicism in Kosovo, referred to as a return to the faith of the ancestors. This interesting movement, has also been accompanied by criticism.

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/w...

@fatjonamejdini.bsky.social published an important report on sanctions in the Western Balkans over the last decade, which includes 166 sanctions on individuals and companies for engaging in corruption, linking to organised crime, and destabilising the region

see.globalinitiative.net/sanctions-da...

For more check out our report and the accompanying database:

globalinitiative.net/wp-content/u...

see.globalinitiative.net/sanctions-da...

I'm pleased to be the co-author of a new report examining sanctions in WB. Over the past decade, 166 sanctions have been imposed on individuals & companies across the region. The US is responsible for 94% of them, while BiH received the highest number.

On Monday we’re launching a report on sanctions in the Western Balkans, accompanied by a database listing every sanction from the past decade. Those interested can register to attend.

gitoc.heysummit.com/talks/sancti...

Former Turkish ambassador elected new OSCE secretary general, Turkish source says The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe elected former Turkish Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu on Friday as its new secretary general, a Turkish diplomatic source said, filling a position that had been vacant since September.

Turkey received support in its bid from Greece, creating an unexpected alliance. The move eliminated changes of the Albanian foreign minister, who had been seen as a strong contender for the position of OSCE Secretary General.

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

The GI-TOC stands in solidarity with threatened Bosnian journalist The GI-TOC strongly condemns the reported threats against Avdo Avdić, a respected journalist in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Global Initiative calls for action to protect Bosnian journalist threatened by organized crime.

globalinitiative.net/announcement...