Ministers agree to step up crime fighting partnership with Albania

Border security minister Angela Eagle has agreed to step up a crime-fighting partnership with Albania which has seized hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash.

Law enforcement officers from the UK and Albania have met to discuss the next stages of action by the UK-Albania Joint Task Force which was set up in 2022 to tackle organised criminal gangs smuggling across borders.

Officers from both countries met in London on Thursday October 24 to discuss the next steps following a meeting the previous week by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Albanian Minister of Interior Ervin Hoxha on October 16 2024.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Both ministers agreed that senior Home Office officials will travel to Tirana before Christmas for further talks on deepening co-operation in the collective fight against serious and organised crime and irregular migration.

“This dialogue will strengthen both countries’ capabilities to smash the gangs responsible for people smuggling and wider criminality, and will be backed by the new Border Security Command.

“The command will further enhance the UK’s international partnerships and boost our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks.”

Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: “The UK and Albania both have the shared drive to smash the organised criminal gangs that prey on vulnerable people and bring misery to our countries.

“Our intensified joint working will show criminals they have nowhere to hide and act as a blueprint for how law enforcement can work across borders to tackle some of the most serious crimes.”

Mr Hoxha said: “We are extremely pleased with the outcomes achieved through collaborative operations between Albanian and British law enforcement agencies in tackling organised crime.

“We have strong reasons to believe these accomplishments will be further enhanced and strengthened moving forward.

“The operational partnership between our two countries’ agencies has reached unprecedented levels, reflecting the existing mutual trust and shared commitment between our security structures.

“We are confident that our united efforts against serious organised crime networks will significantly contribute to improving public safety standards in both the UK and Albania.”

The Home Office spokesman said that the joint action had led to a number of arrests and added: “Officers noticed an increase in cash being declared at the border since this operation started and have also secured intelligence to better understand and disrupt organised criminal groups involved in this cross-border crime.”

He added that Martin Hewitt had been appointed as the new Border Security Commander last month.

Published: 26/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub