Corruption and smuggling on the Albania-Kosovo / SPAK border Official announcement: Prison arrest for 17 police officers

Criminal proceedings no. 272/2020, has started on the basis of the report material referred by the Service for Internal Affairs and Complaints, on suspicions for the involvement of some of the police officers at the Morina Border Crossing Point in illegal activities for criminal offenses “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions ”, provided by Article 259 of the Criminal Code“ Smuggling of goods, for which excise is paid ”, as well as“ Assistance for illegal border crossing ”, etc., provided by Articles 172 and 298 of the Criminal Code.

The Special Prosecution Office, in cooperation with the Internal Affairs and Complaints Service and the General Directorate of State Police, has conducted proactive investigations, using special investigative methods. Investigations were also conducted in coordination and in cooperation with the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo.

During the investigation, the illegal activity of the State Police employees in the Local Directorate for Border and Migration, Kukës was documented during the service at the Morinë Border Crossing Point, Kukës. The illegal actions consisted of numerous cases of corruption committed continuously. during the exercise of duty by these employees, forcing Albanian and foreign citizens to pay different amounts of money for the passage from Albania to Kosovo and vice versa.

The investigation documented 312 episodes of corrupt actions of police officers, who favored various persons for the importation of smuggled goods; persons who trafficked vehicles, other illegal items; helped to cross the border various persons with legal problems for their entry and exit in EU countries, in terms of fictitious registrations for entry and exit into Albanian territory; as well as assisting other persons who had problems with the law, who were not registered in the TIMS system, as their travel to Kosovo and vice versa was not allowed.

Following an objective and comprehensive investigation, at the request of the Special Prosecution, the Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime has imposed 34 personal security measures, of which 32 employees of the Kukës Border Police, with various functions within the Directorate of Kukës Border and Migration, including the Director of this Directorate, for committing criminal offenses “Abuse of duty”, “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions”, in cooperation, “Exercising illegal influence on persons exercising public functions” ”, Provided by article 248, 259, 25 and 245/1 of the Criminal Code. Personal security measures are:

‶ Prison arrest ‶ for 17 people (police officers)

‶ Home arrest ‶, for 14 people (citizens and police officers)

‶ Suspension from duty ‶, 3 persons (police officer)

Today, on 08.04.2022, the Service for Internal Affairs and Complaints, in cooperation with the General Directorate of State Police and the Border Police Department, have executed the personal security measures imposed by the court.

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