Arms Trafficking Surge Turns Albania into Key Smuggling Hub

Albania is fast becoming a critical node in the illicit arms trade. In recent weeks, police in and around Tirana have seized a wide array of smuggled weapons, from Kalashnikovs and grenades to modern pistols and explosives. In one instance, two men were caught with high-end Sig Sauer pistols smuggled from Montenegro, each worth thousands of euros. Another bust unveiled weapons likely looted from Albanian military depots during the chaos of the late 1990s, underscoring the diversity of the black-