During the meeting, Proda highlighted the excellent cooperation with British law enforcement agencies in various aspects of policing and thanked them for the support that these agencies, the Home Office, and the British Government have provided to the Albanian State Police, both in strengthening professional capacities and improving logistical capacities.
One clear example of this support is the donation of equipment worth around 30,000 pounds to the Border and Migration Department, which was handed over during the meeting.
The International Operations Department at the UK Home Office donated equipment worth approximately 30,000 pounds to the Border and Migration Department of the Albanian State Police, aimed at strengthening the fight against organized crime, both within the country’s territory and at Albania’s border points.

Ian Byrne highlighted the excellent results achieved under the Joint Task Force Against Migration and thanked the State Police for the highly successful joint operations carried out. He also reaffirmed the commitment to continue this collaboration and British support for the Albanian Police. As part of ongoing support, work is expected to begin on building the Local Directorate for Border and Migration in Tirana, and several drones are expected to be delivered to the Criminal Police department.

Migration in Tirana, and several drones are expected to be delivered to the Criminal Police department.

The Regional Manager of the National Crime Agency, Andrew Clowes, praised the cooperation between the parties in the fight against organized crime and expressed his readiness to support the Albanian Police in real-time information sharing, with the aim of ensuring the safety of citizens in both countries.

The Director General of the State Police assured the two British representatives of the commitment to strengthen this cooperation and reaffirmed once again that the State Police is highly determined to work with partners and law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally to combat organized crime and illegal migration.
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The delivery of these high-tech equipment was organized in the venues of State Police Directorate General.

In attendance of the ceremony were State Police Director General, Ardi Veliu, the Director of the Department for Border and Migration, Eduart Merkaj, other senior officials at State Police, Director of the International Cross-Border Force, Nick Fowler, Regional Director of Border Force International Jane Woolley, Regional Manager for the Western Balkans at the British Border Force stationed in Tirana, Richard Lloyd, Senior Expert at British International Border Force stationed in Tirana, Jonathan Bardsley and directors of State Police.

State Police Director General Veliu thanked the representatives of the UK Border Force for the donation of equipment that will serve to carry out additional controls in the areas where the Border Police operates.

He stressed that their use will improve security and accurate identification of drugs and other chemical substances detected at border crossing points. Veliu also praised the ongoing cooperation with the UK Police, especially in the fight against organized crime.
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