A representative of the Customs Administration participated in the 27th meeting of the SELEC Council in Bucharest, during which the process of electing the General Director of the organization was concluded. In this process, the Romanian candidate Madalina Sorina Vlangar was elected General Director of SELEC.

The Customs Administration emphasized that it remains committed to strengthening regional cooperation, information exchange and inter-institutional coordination to support the fight against criminal activities across borders. /p.s./

During the meetings, Beja discussed the progress of reforms undertaken by Albania under Chapter 29, “Customs Union,” as well as the results achieved by the Albanian Customs Administration, with officials responsible for customs and digitalization at DG TAXUD.

Director General Besmir Beja emphasized that the digitalization of customs infrastructure and its interoperability with European systems constitute a key priority in Albania’s path toward European Union integration.

He also commended the professional capabilities of the Albanian Customs Administration staff, who presented the work accomplished on the new systems to the European experts.

A significant portion of the meetings focused on cooperation mechanisms between Albania and DG TAXUD, progress reporting and monitoring, the exchange of contact points for specific projects and further technical coordination. The parties agreed to hold periodic meetings of technical teams, as well as quarterly meetings to assess the overall progress of the process.

At the conclusion of the meetings, it was agreed that the next coordination meeting would take place in Tirana in three months, where there will be presented progress achieved during this period and the next steps of the work.

In parallel with preparations for the implementation of NCTS, Albania is also proceeding with the legal process for accession to the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure. The draft law for the ratification of the Convention has been prepared by the Albanian Customs Administration and is expected to be submitted for review to the Council of Ministers and subsequently to the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, in accordance with national procedures.

The coordination meeting with DG TAXUD represents a significant step in strengthening technical cooperation between Albania and the European Union and in fulfilling commitments regarding the negotiations for Chapter 29, “Customs Union.” /p.s./

During visits to the Vlora and Kakavija customs branches, General Director of the Customs Besmir Beja reviewed work progress, service organization, and traffic flow management.

He urged customs officers to provide fast, professional service. He also stressed that making travel easier must go hand in hand with strict border controls and compliance with the law.

Furthermore, Beja highlighted the need for high standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability to build stronger trust between the public, businesses and the customs administration.

Customs announced that field monitoring will continue at all border points to ensure efficient and professional service throughout the summer season.

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Albanian Customs is optimizing passenger and vehicle processing to handle peak summer traffic smoothly. As Vlora and other key destinations experience heavy seasonal influxes, border checkpoints remain fully staffed and ready to prevent delays through August. /e.xh/a.f/p.s./

Albanian Customs says this system will speed up mail processing and improve safety checks. The meeting focused on teamwork between agencies to share information quickly and update technology for better service.

Albanian Customs, AKEP, and postal services are working together to improve e-commerce. This partnership makes shipping safer, faster and more transparent for citizens and businesses. It also stops smuggling, tax evasion and illegal trade through better digital tracking. /e.xh/j.p/r.e/p.s./

During July, Albania’s six main border points processed an average of over 90,000 passengers and 34,000 vehicles daily. Minister Malaj reported that high tourist activity brought a monthly total of 1.7 million passengers and 702,000 vehicles.

Morina recorded the highest traffic with roughly 422,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles. Other major crossing points included Kapshtica (204,000 passengers, 48,000 vehicles), Kakavija (199,000 passengers, 46,000 vehicles), Hani i Hotit (171,000 passengers, 84,000 vehicles), and Qafë Botë (132,000 passengers, 37,000 vehicles).

Minister Malaj noted that customs teams are working to manage heavy traffic and speed up border crossings for travelers. This surge in movement coincides with a peak tourism season marked by high visitor volume from all directions.

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More than 1.8 million passengers travelled through Tirana International Airport in July, with around 9,500 flights recorded during the month, reflecting the sharp increase in travel at the height of the holiday season, Malaj said.

Albania’s seaports also experienced strong passenger flows. Around 111,000 passengers and 40,000 vehicles passed through the Port of Durrës during the period, while the Port of Sarandë handled 131,000 passengers and 250 vehicles. The Port of Vlora recorded 17,000 passengers and approximately 5,000 vehicles, he said.

Malaj said the Albanian Customs Administration is maintaining 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operations at all border crossing points to facilitate the movement of passengers and vehicles during the busy summer period.

He also encouraged travellers to consult the Passenger Customs Manual before travelling to familiarize themselves with customs procedures and declaration requirements, saying the guidance is intended to help reduce delays at border crossings.

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Following Operation Balkan Eye-1, this meeting reviewed the operation’s 19 law enforcement seizures. Interventions targeted narcotics trafficking, the smuggling of cash and precious metals, and broader customs violations.

Delegates focused on the growing crisis of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl. To combat this, they highlighted the urgent need for countries to work together, share critical information, and coordinate law enforcement and health responses.

Albanian Customs is expanding global partnerships to stop cross-border crime, secure our borders, and facilitate legal trade. /e.xh/r.e/a.f/p.s./

During the visit, Malaj praised the continuous support of the United Kingdom in strengthening border security and modernizing the customs administration.

“This is an investment that extends to 11 customs points and is worth 1.6 million pounds,” said Minister Malaj.

For his part, Director General of Customs Besmir Beja emphasized that the project has brought about a significant improvement in the operational capacities of the customs administration.

“General Directorate of Customs, as the beneficiary of this project, now has at its disposal 121 new cameras with modern technology, which ensure that we control all our border points in the best possible way. Every citizen and every business that passes through the territory of the Republic of Albania will have the appropriate control, but will also see the appropriate speed in this control”, said Beja.

While British Ambassador Abbott praised the concrete results of the cooperation with the Albanian authorities, describing it as a successful model of partnership in function of border security and fight against illegal activities.

Modern cameras and automated license plate readers have been installed to help authorities intercept illegal trafficking, track high-risk vehicles and crack down on undeclared cash transport. /r.e/p.s./

At the recent customs forum, border security, customs officials and international organizations convened to address emerging challenges in firearms and ammunition trafficking. Participants focused on actionable strategies to enhance regional cooperation against illicit arms trade.

Representatives of the Albanian Customs shared the administration’s expertise in strengthening customs controls, optimizing risk management and fostering institutional collaboration to improve border security.

According to the Customs Administration, regional forums serve as a platform to share best practices and coordinate institutional efforts to combat illegal trafficking.

The meeting took place within the framework of joint regional efforts to strengthen security and fight cross-border organized crime. /e.xh/j.p/p.s./