The initiative forms part of the OSCE’s long-term support for Albanian law enforcement institutions and aims to improve the effectiveness of criminal investigations through the exchange of international best practices.

The OSCE Presence in Albania said on Monday the study visit will provide participants with first-hand insight into Police Scotland’s operational procedures, management standards, and advanced software solutions used to support the effective management of human sources.

Ahead of the visit, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met with the ASP delegation and underscored the critical role of collecting reliable and credible information in criminal investigations, noting that human sources often play a decisive role in successfully combating serious and organized crime.

This initiative forms part of the OSCE Presence’s broader support to Albanian law enforcement in advancing Intelligence-Led Policing as a key approach to preventing and combating crime.

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Police said the operation, codenamed “Oroshi”, began on November 24 when officers in Puka spotted a man who fled into an abandoned house and threatened police after refusing to come out. Based on earlier intelligence about the suspect’s potential danger, officers sealed off the building and called in the RENEA special forces unit, which took control of the outer perimeter.

According to police, shots were fired from inside the house at the moment RENEA called on the man to surrender.

After 12 hours of negotiations – including the involvement of the men’s relatives – both individuals gave themselves up. Police said one of them, identified as E.U., suffered a gunshot wound to his right thigh and was taken to Shkodra Regional Hospital, where he is in stable condition.

A search of the house uncovered four automatic rifles, a pistol, 17 defensive hand grenades, ammunition, detonator caps, explosive fuses and a flag of the Islamic State (ISIS) organisation, police said.

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According to the OSCE Presence, the training sessions took place from 22 May to 27 June in Tirana, Shkodra, Kukës, Vlora, Elbasan and Durrës.

The Presence said in a press release on Tuesday that previously trained officers took the lead as mentors, passing on skills to new colleagues.

“Sixty police officers and psychologists were trained in special investigation techniques, trauma-informed interviewing of minors and adult victims and formal interviews of trafficking victims,” the OSCE Presence said.

The programme is part of the OSCE Presence project “Strengthening Albania’s law-enforcement and prosecution capacities and multi-agency co-operation in combating trafficking in human beings”, funded by the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy and Ireland.

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The operation, codenamed “Stream” was led by Bavarian authorities, the Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime (ZCB), Germany, and was backed by the Europol, involving law enforcement agencies from 35 countries worldwide.

Albania’s cybercrime unit launched the investigation after receiving intelligence from German counterparts and Europol. Prosecutors in Tirana opened a criminal case, leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest.

Albanian police have arrested a 29-year-old man in Tirana as part of the international investigation into online child sexual abuse.

State Police continue cooperation with international partners to combat cybercrime and protect minors from online abuse.

The investigation has so far identified at least 1,400 suspects globally, with at least 79 arrests for possessing or sharing child sexual abuse material, as well as engaging in direct abuse.

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The purpose of the meeting was to introduce Baldwin, as the new Advisor, for Anti-Terrorism, for Southeast Europe at the US Embassy in Albania, as well as to further expand the cooperation of the State Police, with the partners of the OPDAT mission, in the common war against terrorism and violent extremism, as well as the intensification of support for the repatriation and rehabilitation of Albanian citizens, returned from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

The Director General of the State Police thanked Baldwin for the ongoing support of the OPDAT and ICITAP missions, and the US Embassy in Albania, voicing confidence that the State Police consider the war against terrorism and violent extremism as a priority.

The State Police chief confirmed readiness to enhance cooperation with the Center Against Violent Extremism to guarantee public order and safety.

The new Legal Adviser for Anti-Terrorism at OPDAT, Baldwin stated that, in relation to the cross-sectoral cooperation and strategy, chosen and implemented by Albania, the US support, beyond the operational phases, also aims to strengthen the institutional capacities, the reference mechanisms and information sharing, without leaving aside support for strengthening civil society, to broadly intervene in the community.

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The Embassy said in a press release on Saturday that “the equipment will assist Albanian law enforcement partners in deterring terrorism, cybercrime, and other threats.”

Deputy Chief of Mission Demian Smith attended the ceremony, during which U.S. Embassy Tirana Regional Security Officer Karen Riley and Director of Albanian State Police Gledis Nano reviewed and signed memorandums listing the donated items.

Director Nano presented Nicholas Lavengood, U.S. Embassy Tirana Assistant Regional Security Officer, with an award from the Albanian State Police for his great contribution to enhancing bilateral cooperation.

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