IPA 2013 Western Balkans

Transcription

1 IPA 2013 Western Balkans 3 rd Steering Committee Resident Expert Giuseppe Colasanto Beneficiary Country Albania Trieste, 28 th February

2 Introduction Albania was granted EU candidate status in June 2014 and has launched a series of EU-related reforms laid down in the roadmap adopted under the five key priorities (KP) identified for the opening of accession negotiations i.a. fight against organised crime (KP4); Justice reform is one of the main milestones. Some progress is made, international police cooperation has intensified, especially with Europol. However, cooperation and coordination mechanisms between police and prosecution needs to be further strengthened to dismantle criminal networks more effectively. The number of final convictions in organised crimes cases is still low. Financial investigations related to organised criminal groups are not used systematically and effectively. The track record of freezing and confiscating illegally acquired assets remains very low. 2

3 ACTIVITIES PERFORMED International police and judicial cooperation Workshops Participation at the International Cooperation on Organized Crime, and Money Laundering, 7-11 November 2016 in (Ostia, Guardia di Finanza Academy) Rome. Delivered a Workshop on: International Cooperation detecting of common transnational crimes - stolen vehicles /forged/fraudulent documents held in Tirana, Security Academy, throughout December Cross-border investigations Supported trans-border investigation cases, performed through international police and judicial cooperation: "Balkan", "Porta", "Shadow", "Letra" and "Prendimi", "KABATAS", "Banchina fantasma", "Boca 2015", "SMOKE SNAKE" in cooperation with the parallel Prosecutors' Network project. At the end of the investigation several individuals were arrested and a large amount of drugs were seized together with arms and vehicles. 3

4 ACTIVITIES PERFORMED Exchange of information and intelligence. IT and Data Protection At the Annual Conference on Police & Customs Cooperation Centres organized in EUROPOL premises on the October 2016 where the regional project IPA/2013 /WB "Fight against organize crime: International Cooperation in Criminal Justice" presented its video to promote the establishment of the tri-lateral Police Cooperation Centre in Plav, between Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo* that is available in IPA/2013/WB official website: in English, Albanian and Serbian, in order to be used as a training material in the Beneficiary Countries. Special investigative techniques at international level, JITs, JPOs and financial investigation 4

5 ACTIVITIES PERFORMED - DATA 200 Meetings with the beneficiaries and interantional stakeholders in Albania. 7 missions outside main office. 4 international experts involved. 24 days outside the main office (Kosovo, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy). 5

6 ACTIVITIES PERFORMED - DATA 09 trans-border investigations supported; 2 transborder investigations closed; Results: 115 persons arrested; 13 arrests warrants issued; 5 guns,15 vehicles and 87 mobile phones seized; 51.6 kg of heroin; 1.8 kg of cocaine; 370 kg of marijuana; 60 kg of synthetic drugs; 30.4 kg of cannabis seized; 650 plants of cannabis destroyed. 6

7 MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS Workshop on International Cooperation detecting of common transnational crimes - stolen vehicles /forged/fraudulent documents held in Tirana throughout December 2016, in the premises of the Academy of Security. Following the Workshop on International Cooperation detecting of common transnational crimes - stolen vehicles /forged/fraudulent documents held in Tirana throughout December 2016, a working group was establish to draft a handbook on the topic above. International Cooperation on Organized Crime, and Money Laundering 7-11 November 2016 in (Ostia) Rome. IPA 2013/WB supported the following trans-border investigation cases, performed through international police and judicial cooperation: "Balkan", "Porta", "Shadow", "Letra" and "Prendimi", "KABATAS", "Banchina fantasma", "Boca 2015", "SMOKE SNAKE" in cooperation with Prosecutors Network. IPA/2013 WB is promoting the establishment of the trilateral police cooperation centre in Plav between Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania using secured system such as SIENA in order to support cross-border info exchange activities, operations and investigations. In these regards a study visit was organized to the similar PCC in Tarvisio/Thorl Maglern and a video clip has been produced as training material. 7

8 MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS Enhancement of international and regional police cooperation through joint investigations dealing with large-scale international criminal networks. Development of cutting-edge investigation techniques based on EU best practices as interception of communication, surveillance, covert investigations, informants, controlled deliveries and investigations targeting confiscation and asset recovery, deemed useful in conducting joint investigations. Improvement of cooperation and coordination mechanism between local law enforcement officers and prosecutors through joint operations, based on «training on the job» method. Contribution to the implementation of data protection architecture according to EU standards and promotion of modern European communication systems by supporting the establishment of the PCC in Plav and a PCCC network in the WB region. 8

9 Thank you for your attention! Faleminderit shume! Hvala ljepo! 9