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./

As part of the EU4Migration project, at the Local Directorate of Border and Migration in Gjirokastra there was held a meeting with participation of Director for Migration, Asylum and Anti-Trafficking Policies at the Ministry of Interior Alma Bime, representatives of the Border and Migration Department, the Local Directorate for Border and Migration Gjirokastra, UNHCR, and the International Police Organization – IPO.

According to the State Police, the meeting focused on strengthening institutional cooperation in the field of asylum, border management and identification of cases of human trafficking.

“Albania will not serve as a transit route or safe haven for human trafficking networks. This is an example of the determination of law enforcement institutions to protect human life and dignity, as well as to crack down on any form of organized crime,” the Police said. /m.q/r.e/p.s./

The project is funded by the European Commission (DG NEAR/DG EAC) and implemented by the UNESCO.

The main objective of the project is to promote regional cooperation, reconciliation and good neighborly relations through heritage and culture, as essential prerequisites for progress on the European path, and especially to encourage the approximation of the national legal framework with that of the EU.

In particular, the project aims to promote dialogue, mutual respect, trust and intercultural understanding between communities, contributing to an environment conducive to reconciliation, stability and sustainable development. /j.p/p.s./

The study visit focused on the presentation of the operation and organization of the Port of Gioia Tauro, physical inspections on the ground for goods on transit to various ports as well as familiarization with the legal framework and procedures to combat illegal traffic and narcotics.

Albania and Italy signed in April of the current year a memorandum that foresees the intensification of cooperation between the General Directorate of Albanian Customs, the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) and the Guardia di Finanza, as well as the undertaking of joint initiatives in the framework of the approximation of procedures and legislation with the standards and legal framework of the European Union. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

Minister of the Interior Taulant Balla made the statement today during the conference, “Increasing efforts for a victim-focused approach in the fight against human trafficking”.

Attending the conference on the joint efforts of the government in this respect, there were representatives of the US Embassy, the EU in Tirana, law enforcement agencies and the civil society.

“The State Police in cooperation with SPAK have dealt a blow to a large network of people involved in this criminal activity, including police officers. I consider prevention, information and awareness of society as a key element in this joint effort”, stressed Balla.

Balla also said that since December 2023, the Ministry of Interior is implementing a plan of measures, based on the recommendations of the TIP Report.

Minister Balla added that the phenomenon has a multi-dimensional manifestation, being influenced by the situations of social and economic vulnerability of persons.

“When we talk about minors, special attention goes to unaccompanied minors, who irregularly cross the border to the Republic of Albania and who are potentially victims of trafficking. Therefore, I take the opportunity to make a call to all the associations and organizations of civil society present today, but also those that follow us and that have as the object of their activity the measures within the framework of human trafficking, to pay close attention to special and be supportive partners to the State Police and Local Self-Government Units towards this category”, appealed Balla.

The Ministry of the Interior, with the support of its partners, has finalized the new Agreement for the operation of the National Referral Mechanism, for the identification, protection and re-integration of Trafficking Victims. This mechanism focuses on the victim, to provide them with ease and support to overcome the traumas and resume life.

The National Action Plan for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons, which will be approved soon, foresees, among other things, the reduction of the threat and influence of organized crime, the attack on illegal trafficking, the protection of citizens, institutions or the economy, as well as the increase of capacities for identification and proactive investigations. /k.s/p.s./

According to SPAK, the defendants used to traffic to Albania the stolen vehicles in the Republic of Kosovo through the border crossing point of Morina, Kukës putting on them license plates which belonged to vehicles registered in Albania.

Three of the defendants involved in the case used to be police officers.

Endi Ahmetaj was a police officer in the “Shqiponja” special force in Kukës Local Police Directorate, while another defendant, Vojsava Doda, was a police inspector in the General Directorate of Tirana State Police. Another defendant, Fatri Braha, was a police officer with the rank of inspector in the Local Directorate of Border and Migration Kukës.

On 24.02.2022, having the duty of “Assistant specialist controller” at the Morin Border Police Station, Kukës, Braha failed to perform the verification and registration procedures in the TIMS System for the defendant Vojsava Doda, creating facilities for her to traffic a stolen vehicle in the Republic of Kosovo into the territory of the Republic of Albania with the license plate of another vehicle registered in Albania.

“The criminal activity of the defendants was discovered on 24.02.2022 and they were arrested in the act or detained on the following day. The preliminary investigations were directed by the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime and were held in cooperation with the investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as officers of the judicial police services of the Local Police Directorate of Tirana and the Local Directorate of the Tirana Police Supervision Agency. “said SPAK./gj.m/p.s./

“President Biden, by a special decree, proclaimed January 2023 as the National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Around the world, human trafficking has stripped nearly 25 million people of their safety, dignity, and liberty — disproportionately affecting historically underserved and marginalized communities. Trafficking in human beings is known by society and the Albanian justice. Trafficking in women and children is one of the most heinous crimes against life. Trafficking takes place simultaneously through other criminal acts such as gender-based violence, violence against women and children, domestic violence,” Nikolla said in a message.

Parliament Speaker Nikolla encouraged the police and justice bodies to demonstrate zero tolerance and be ruthless towards traffickers and criminals.

/u.sh/

Attending the event organized by the president’s office was President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, the US Ambassador in Tirana Yuri Kim, US Senators and Congressmen, representatives of the Government, as well as many different personalities.

In his speech, President Ilir Meta said that, “Trafficking of human beings remains a worrying problem for the Balkans, Europe and beyond.”

“A significant part of the identified victims are citizens from our region. A series of measures are taken over the years, but child trafficking is still significant. The COVID-19 pandemic made children more exposed to trafficking. The fight against trafficking must be based on preventing the phenomenon. Under these circumstances, we need to increase regional cooperation. On the other hand, the economic situation in our country should be a priority. The target of traffickers are people in greatest difficulty. People in desperate need of work, those who easily fall prey to trafficking. A more inclusive economy, the rule of law would not only improve the lives of our citizens, but would significantly reduce trafficking of any kind,” he said.

Meta added that, “There is a need for continuous training of the State Police, prosecutors, for rapid investigation and prosecution of trafficking.”

“Albania has a legal framework which to a considerable extent is in accordance with European legislation for the prevention and fight against trafficking in human beings, but there is still room for improvement and important interventions to meet any European standard,” said Meta.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the institutions, religious municipalities and non-governmental organizations that have been and are active in trafficking. Protecting life is a mission that belongs to all of us. As Mother Teresa used to say: “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire”, said Meta./p.s./

“Thanks to the fruitful inter-institutional cooperation, it became possible to seize a considerable amount of objects, a part of which, based on the preliminary verification, are suspected to belong to the cultural heritage”, said Margariti.

She stressed that, “The Ministry of Culture, through its specialized institutions, has cooperated closely at the level of expertise with the State Police and has become an active part of the process of identifying and the inventory process of the seized objects, photographing and registering them.”

“While it is still early to conclude on the affiliation and origin of the objects, congratulating the State Police in finalizing this action, the Ministry of Culture guarantees competence and seriousness in identifying the objects”, added Margariti.

Margariti stressed that, “The Albanian government is engaged in the fight against trafficking in cultural heritage sites, in cooperation with specialized international institutions, up to the United States of America” ​​./ m.m / r.e /p.s./

Çuçi appreciated it as another excellent model of work of the joint investigation teams with the countries of the European Union.

“We are maximally committed and determined to crack down with all the force of the law on every criminal network of clandestine traffickers. Albania protects the rights of migrants and refugees, but it will never become a bridge for groups that risk their lives and use the drama of those people for profit. I positively assess the work of the State Police, SPAK, other law enforcement agencies and our partners for the successful finalization of this operation “, said Çuçi.

The State Police finalized today the operation “Astrolabio”, executing the decisions of the Special Court of First Instance Against Corruption and Organized Crime, for 18 Albanian and foreign citizens.

During the investigations carried out by the Joint Investigation Team, it was documented that the members of the four criminal groups exercised in cooperation with each other, the criminal activity of smuggling different persons from the Middle East, destined for Southern Italy and then to other EU countries./p.s./