OSCE Presence in Albania supports the Albanian Law Enforcement Agencies in strengthening investigative capacities against transnational organized crime

On 26-27 June, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a two-day training programme for seventeen members of the Albanian State Police (ASP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and General Prosecution Office. The training was held with the support of the Belgian Federal Judicial Police, Italian State Police, Guardia di Finanza, and Carabinieri’s Special Operations Group (ROS).

The training programme aimed at strengthening the overall investigative and operational capacities of the Albanian law enforcement agencies to counter transnational organized crime.

The training covered a number of topics, such as the European Union (EU) legislative instruments, one of them being EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) focusing on high-risk criminal networks, and operational actions involving Western Balkans, financial and criminal investigation of transnational organized crime networks, analysis of data and use of special investigative techniques, as well as links between corruption and transnational organized crime.

This activity was organized by the Presence’s Security Co-operation Department and Department for Governance in Economic and Environmental Issues. It was held in the framework of the Presence’s projects “Supporting Albanian law enforcement to tackle serious and organized crime and improve regional co-operation” and “Consolidated Action against Corruption in Albania”. The aim of the above-mentioned projects is to assist Albanian law enforcement agencies in developing capacities, improving professionalism, learning from the best practices of their European counterparts, and supporting police development and reform.