The Albanian criminal law and environmental crime

Ecomafia

Abstract

Criminal offences against the environment (air, land, water,
flora and fauna) have become a global concern and problem which
calls for immediate solution. Very often, the print and electronic
media highlight that the Ozone layer is being destroyed because of
unlawful interventions or that illicit trafficking of hazardous wastes or
flora and fauna is becoming a constant phenomenon. The governments
of many States in the framework of undertaking general national
policies have been preparing strategies and plans for the protection of
environment and also the fight against environmental crime aiming at
the taking and implementation of both institutional and legislative
measures so as to prevent and lower the level of such crime. The
criminal phenomena that have a detrimental effect on the environment
become a considerable concern when committed in an organised way
by organised criminal groups and in such case the term “organised
environmental crime” comes to play. Other literatures mainly the
italian one refers this crime under the term “Ecomafia”. Nowadays,
many international, domestic, regional and global organisations
around the world are undertaking initiatives and cooperating for the
protection of environment.