SPAK issues 25 arrest warrants, how did the traffic of emigrants from Albania to EU countries work: 5 thousand to 10 thousand euros per person

While SPAK has issued 25 arrest warrants for persons involved in the trafficking of migrants from the East.

During the investigations, it was documented that the members of 4 (four) criminal groups exercised in cooperation with each other the criminal activity (2 groups in Italy, 1 group in Albania and 1 group in Turkey) of smuggling different persons from the Middle East, destined for Southern Italy and subsequently other EU countries.

Members of these criminal groups, after securing various persons mainly in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and other countries for a monetary reward from 5,000 to 10,000 Euros, smuggled them by land and sea, enabling them to cross illegal from one country to another with final destination EU countries. The joint investigation conducted documented 30 episodes of smuggling of 1120 migrants.

From the investigations conducted in Albania by SPAK in close cooperation with the General Directorate of State Police and other law enforcement agencies are documented 7 (seven) episodes of smuggling of persons from the Middle East, carried out in Tirana, Korça, Gjirokastra, 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 was ordered, as part of a structured criminal group, of which 18 are Albanian nationals and 7 foreign nationals (Palestinian, Iraqi, Iranian, Egyptian and Turkish).

Investigations and operation were conducted between the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, Albania; Anti-Mafia Section of the Lecce Prosecution, Italy; as well as the General Prosecutor’s Office of Athens, Greece, with the coordination of EUROJUST (AJA) and the assistance of EUROPOL.

The operation was conducted simultaneously in the three member states of the team and in several other states.

In this context, we also emphasize the contribution and assistance provided to 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 – CSCWB IPA 2019 ”.

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