62 thousand liters of oil were seized and 13 arrests were made during the operation of the Albanian police in cooperation with the Italian GDF. Operations were carried out in the open sea, where according to two official sources, two fishing vessels were smuggling oil. 

In a press conference where they gave details of the operation, Sajmir Boshnjaku, director of the Border and Migration Department, said that two ships smuggled oil, where a Libyan ship supplied fuel to the Albanian vessel, while the people who were in the crew of the vessel were arrested.

"We are here together with the representatives of the GDF and the Italian Interforce Office in Albania, to present the results of another joint operation to prevent and combat cross-border crimes, illegal traffic and smuggling. 

Within the framework of cooperation, exchange of information and coordination of actions, between the structures of the State Police, the Italian Liaison Office Interface, the GDF, the QNOD and the coast guard, based on the informational intelligence provided by the investigative structures of the State Police, that the illegal activity of oil smuggling to Albania could be carried out in the maritime space, the coded police operation "Geni" was organized and finalized. 

Based on this information provided by the investigative structures of the State Police, there was a need to include in the operation also an aircraft of the GDF.

As a result of the coordination of services, it became possible to identify two fishing vessels which are suspected of carrying out this illegal activity at sea. 

The Police Services have escorted 2 fishing vessels, specifically the Albanian vessel "Geni" and the Lebanese vessel "ABOBAKR 124", which at the end of the first investigative actions were seized as material evidence. 

Also, as material evidence, 62,000 liters of diesel were seized without the relevant documentation. 

Following the investigative actions, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office at the Durrës Judicial District Court, on January 12, 2023, the crew members of the ship "Geni" were arrested in flagrante delicto, specifically: 

E. Q., 31 years old, K. K., 30 years old, S. G., 65 years old, resident of Durrës and M. E., 50 years old, foreign citizen. 

These citizens have been arrested for the criminal offenses of "Smuggling goods for which excise duty is paid", "Concealing income", "Storage or depositing contraband goods", "Smuggling of the captain, pilot or crew", and "Cleaning the products of criminal offense or criminal activity". 

Following the operational and investigative actions, on January 13, 2023, the red-handed arrest of foreign nationals, crew members of the Libyan ship "Abobakr 124", which is suspected of supplying smuggled oil to the Albanian ship, specifically citizens: 

M. A., aged 48, A. Z., aged 34, A. A., aged 32, S. N., aged 38, M. M., aged 61, E. K., aged 34, I. A., aged 34, A. H., aged 43 and A. B., aged 55. 

These citizens have been arrested for the criminal offenses of "Smuggling of goods subject to excise duty", "Storage or deposit of smuggled goods" and "Smuggling of the captain, pilot or crew". The police operation and investigative actions lasted 48 hours, at sea and on land. During the operation, 2 ships were blocked and their crew members were arrested. 

The investigative structures, under the Directorate of Prosecution at the Court of the Judicial District of Durrës, continue the work for the clarification and complete documentation of this criminal activity. 

It should be emphasized that during this operation there was excellent coordination and action between the structures of the State Police, the GDF, the Italian Liaison Office based in Albania and the Coast Guard. 

This operation and other joint operations previously developed with Italian partners clearly show the reliability, professionalism and cooperation between the police structures of both countries. The State Police is very determined to cooperate closely with partners and law enforcement agencies inside and outside the country, in order to prevent and fight cross-border crimes, organized crime, illegal traffic and smuggling," Boshnjaku said.