Story perspectives

Report: Real Estate Fuels Balkan Money-Laundering Crisis

6/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

GI-TOC released a June 18, 2026 report exposing money-laundering enablers across the Western Balkans.
Interviews with 89 sources in six Western Balkan states found real estate dominates laundering via sales and inflated contracts.
Montenegro’s 2024 notaries processed €1.6 billion in 19,857 property sales but filed only two suspicious reports.
North Macedonia legalises over 600 illegal-construction buildings each year, channeling illicit funds, prompting calls for stronger supervision, improved beneficial-ownership data and enhanced regulator-FIU cooperation.

1 of 1

Story summary

GI-TOC released a June 18, 2026 report exposing money-laundering enablers across the Western Balkans.
Interviews with 89 sources in six Western Balkan states found real estate dominates laundering via sales and inflated contracts.
Montenegro’s 2024 notaries processed €1.6 billion in 19,857 property sales but filed only two suspicious reports.
North Macedonia legalises over 600 illegal-construction buildings each year, channeling illicit funds, prompting calls for stronger supervision, improved beneficial-ownership data and enhanced regulator-FIU cooperation.