Greece investigating emigrants’ money

According to these data, Albanian emigrants only have sent more than 2.26 billion EUR to Albania through Greek banks since 2003, and the ultra nationalist MP suspects that the transactions have not been fully inspected, leaving space to the circulation of dirty money.

The MP asked bank leaders if they have inspected this money in full accordance with the respective laws, especially money sent by persons considered as “highly dangerous”, for the fact that there could be criminal money laundering or terrorist sponsoring. He has also asked about the destination of this money and if all taxes had been paid. After Albania, 1.5 million EUR have been sent via bank transfers in Pakistan and 1 million in Afghanistan.

The news was announced by the Saturday economic magazine “Niki Tis Dhimokratias”, which emphasized the fact that this phenomena is occurring while Greek accounts are being emptied by individuals who have lost their trust in the local banking system.

“Furthermore, no one knows exactly what quantity of money have Albanian emigrants sent to their homeland in cash, which could be ten times higher than what has been published, especially in this time when many Albanian emigrants are returning due to the increasing unemployment in Greece”.

Greek media also refer to the fiscal amnesty implemented by the Albanian government, with a tax of only 3% for all emigrants that desire to bring their money to Albanian Banks, leaving space through this action to the laundering of dirty money coming from illegal activities.

Only in the first trimester of this year, the money that comes from Albanian emigrants in Greece was 42% of the total money coming from Albanian emigrants from all over the world, which reached in total 153.1 million EUR, 17 million less than the first trimester of 2010 and 30 million less than the same period of 2009.

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