The Director of the Criminal Police Department in the Albanian State Police, Tonin Vocaj spoke about the operation to crack down on 4 criminal groups in Albania, Italy and Turkey for the trafficking of illegal immigrants. 

In a conference with Italian counterparts, Vocaj says that during this operation 25 people were arrested in our country, 18 of them Albanians while 7 are illegal immigrants who were expected to be trafficked. Vocaj also informs that in the framework of this operation, floating vehicles such as boats that were used to transport illegal immigrants were seized. 

"The State Police today has finalized an operation by executing arrest warrants for 18 Albanians in 3 cities such as Vlora, Fier, Tirana, Elbasan and Korca. Greek, Italian and Albanian authorities have conducted a joint operation. The operation took place in these three countries but also in several other countries. It is documented that members of 4 criminal groups were involved in the criminal activity of smuggling illegal immigrants from the Middle East to the EU. After securing people in Iraq, Syria and Egypt or in other countries, in exchange for amounts from 5,000 to 10,000 euros, they were taken to EU countries. 7 episodes of smuggling in our country have been documented in several cities. Smuggled persons were also caught red-handed. Also floating were vessels, boats and other means of transport. With the decision to determine the security measure by the special prosecution, the arrest in Albania has been ordered for 25 people as part of criminal groups", said Vocaj.