OSCE Presence trains Albania’s police on drug investigation

The OSCE Presence in Albania organized a course on drug investigation for fifteen officers from the Albanian State Police Anti-Drug Units from 22 to 25 September 2020. The course aimed at enhancing the State Police’s capacity to dismantle organized crime groups specialized in drug trafficking, through increasing their knowledge of the new ways criminal chains operate.

International experts from the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center, the USA’s Drug Enforcement Administration, and the UK’s National Crime Agency engaged participants in fictitious and real scenarios of criminal investigation cases of organized criminal groups dealing with drugs trafficking.

The training was part of a larger project run by the OSCE Presence to support Albanian law enforcement to improve regional co-operation and tackle serious and organized crime.

Over the last few years, the Presence in Albania has dedicated around three quarters of its police-related activities to address threats posed by criminal activity, and has enabled the participation of Albanian State Police officers in conferences and trainings abroad to strengthen their professional capacities in investigating drug related cases. The Presence also contributed to the national action plan against cannabis cultivation and trafficking 2017-2020.

The OSCE Presence in Albania will continue supporting law enforcement agencies in Albania by building their capacities and especially improving their investigative skills in drugs and organized crime cases.