(Details) Clandestine trafficking / Destroyed 4 criminal groups that trafficked 1120 clandestine yachts, issued 25 arrest warrants

The Director of the Criminal Police Department in the State Police, Tonin Vocaj spoke about the ‘ASTROLABIO’ operation that took place in Tirana, Durrës, Fier and Vlora.

The operation was conducted simultaneously in three other states that are part of the team and in several other countries.

Full statement of the State Police:

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

The operation was extended to Tirana, Durres, Fier and Vlora.

This operation is in sync with the judicial, law enforcement authorities of Albania, Italy and Greece, within a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), established between the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime in Albania, Anti-Mafia Section of The Prosecutor’s Office of Lecce, Italy, and the General Prosecutor’s Office of Appeal Athens, Greece, with the coordination of EUROJUST (AJA) and the assistance of EUROPOL, who have conducted today, a joint operation to execute 47 security measures approved personnel in connection with the investigations conducted within this Joint Investigation Team. The operation was conducted simultaneously in the three states that are part of the team and in several other countries.

During the investigations carried out by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) 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 countries. other EU. Members of these criminal groups, after securing various persons, mainly in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and other countries, for a monetary reward ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 euros, smuggled them by land and sea, allowing them to cross. illegally from one country to another, with final destination EU countries. The joint investigation conducted documented 30 episodes of smuggling, with 1120 migrants.

From the investigations conducted in Albania, by the services of the Judicial Police in the General Directorate of State Police and other law enforcement agencies, in close cooperation and with the leadership of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime SPAK, seven episodes of smuggling have been documented. of persons from the Middle East, committed in Tirana, Korça, Gjirokastër, Elbasan, Fier, Vlora and Saranda.

The persons smuggled to cross the state borders illegally were also caught in the act, and the criminal activity of this structured group was documented.

Also floating were vessels (boats), a sailing ship, vehicles, as well as various items, which were used for smuggling of persons by land and by sea.

Following the request submitted by the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime, with the decision for imposing security measures given by the judge of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, the arrest of 25 persons in Albania was ordered, as part of a structured criminal group, of which 18 are Albanian citizens and 7 foreign nationals (Palestinians, Iraqis, Iranians, Egyptians and Turks).

Investigations conducted by this Joint Investigation Team (JIT) have once again confirmed the fact that only close cooperation between the judicial and law enforcement authorities of different states can guarantee success and effectiveness in the fight against international organized crime.

In this context, we also emphasize the contribution and assistance provided in the investigations carried out by this Joint Investigation Team (JIT), by the services of the Tirana Office of Security Experts of the Italian Police International Cooperation Service, as well as by the European Union Project ” Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans – CSCËB IPA 2019 ”.

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