Albania's Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution Office (SPAK) has completed its investigation into four Spanish nationals accused of operating a criminal money laundering scheme through three companies registered in Albania, allegedly using illicit funds to purchase a large tract of land in the coastal village of Dhërmi.
The case centers on Domingo Romillo Iriarte, whom prosecutors identify as the alleged organizer and leader of the scheme. The other defendants are Mihaela Munteanu Manole, Alvaro Romillo Castillo, and Doris Pere, local media reports.
SPAK has requested that Domingo Romillo Iriarte, Mihaela Munteanu Manole, and Alvaro Romillo Castillo stand trial on charges of money laundering, participation in a structured criminal group, and committing criminal offenses as part of a structured criminal group and criminal organization. Doris Pere has been charged with money laundering in cooperation with others.
Three Companies Registered With Minimal Capital
According to SPAK, the defendants established three Albanian companies in June 2024: Wingwort LLC, Wortnova LLC, and Wortend LLC.
The companies were registered with minimal capital, shared the same business address, and, according to investigators, never carried out genuine economic activity.
Prosecutors allege that the companies served as vehicles for introducing, circulating, and integrating funds of suspected criminal origin into Albania's formal economy.
The investigation found that the companies conducted substantial banking and tax transactions using allegedly fictitious invoices, payments lacking supporting economic documentation, and international transfers involving foreign entities linked to individuals participating in the alleged laundering network.
€1.62 Million Used to Purchase 23.16 Hectares in Dhërmi
Investigators allege that part of the funds was used to acquire two real estate properties in Dhërmi, covering a total area of 23.16 hectares, for €1.621 million.
However, an expert valuation commissioned during the investigation concluded that the market value of the properties at the time of sale was significantly higher than the amount declared in the purchase contracts.
SPAK also found that Wortend LLC reported financial transactions that were inconsistent with its declared business activity and actual economic capacity.
The prosecution identified bank credits exceeding the value of issued invoices, payments to foreign companies without supporting documentation, and purchases of high-value real estate and vehicles.
SPAK: Domingo Romillo Iriarte Led the Scheme
According to prosecutors, Domingo Romillo Iriarte acted as the organizer and leader of the alleged laundering operation by managing the companies, directing the movement of funds, and deciding on investments in real estate and other assets.
Mihaela Munteanu Manole and Alvaro Romillo Castillo are accused of using their formal roles within Wortnova LLC and Wortend LLC to create the appearance of legitimate business activity and lawful financial transactions.
Meanwhile, Doris Pere allegedly assisted the operation by carrying out administrative, banking, and organizational tasks in Albania, including securing business addresses for the companies and making various payments on their behalf.
Defendants Also Under Investigation in Spain
SPAK said that information exchanged with the judicial authorities of the Kingdom of Spain revealed that some of the defendants are also under investigation there for alleged fraud-related offenses.
The prosecution has ordered preventive seizure of assets belonging to Domingo Romillo Iriarte, Mihaela Munteanu Manole, and Alvaro Romillo Castillo pending trial.
The case is part of a broader series of SPAK investigations that have uncovered the alleged use of shell companies and real estate investments to launder illicit proceeds in Albania. Prosecutors say that hundreds of millions of euros generated through criminal activities have been injected into the country's economy over the past decade, particularly through the construction and real estate sectors.