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Albania: Availability of fraudulent identity documents, including incidents where individuals were detained for using these false documents and government measures designed to address this situation (2005 - September 2006)

Government and media sources from 2005 and 2006 report on the availability of false identity documents in Albania, including forged travel documentation such as passports and visas (US 18 Jan. 2005; ibid. 3 June 2005; ibid. 14 Aug. 2006; AP 18 Sept. 2006). In particular, the news reports focus on the detection and seizure of false travel documents linking the use of false documents to illegal human-trafficking activities involving citizens trying to leave Albania (ATA 7 Oct. 2005; Rilindja Demokratike 21 Feb. 2006).

In January 2005, police agents of the economic and financial crimes unit at Rinas Airport arrested an individual, whose nationality was not disclosed, for using a "forged Greek identification card and a forged Macedonian visa in his attempt to get to the West" (US 18 Jan. 2005). Other news items from January 2005 reported on the suspected complicity of an Albanian border official in allowing illegal migrants with false documents to pass through the Port of Vlore immigration checkpoint (ibid. 25 Jan. 2005). In a separate incident, an individual from Sherishti, Vlore who was returning from abroad was detained by Tirana police officers for a number of offences he had committed earlier; its was also discovered that he had been using false travel documentation to enter and exit Albania to avoid arrest (ibid.).

A February 2005 news article reported on the arrests of two individuals in separate incidents in Rinas and Kavaje for using falsified travel documents (US 21 Feb. 2005). The Kavaje resident was reportedly arrested for "submitting a falsified personal identification certificate with his passport" (ibid.). A resident of Libofsha, Fier was detained by Rinas police before being handed over to the Tirana Directorate of Police where officers from the economic and financial crimes police unit arrested him for attempting to travel to Italy with a false Italian stay permit (ibid.).

In June 2005, the United States' Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) reported on the May closure of a passport forgery operation by police in Tirana (US 3 June 2005). A resident of Tirana was charged with falsifying Albanian and international "official" documents following three months of surveillance by the economic crimes unit (ibid.). The passports were reportedly being sold for 1,000 Euros (EUR) [approximately 1,419 (CAD) (Bank of Canada 6 Oct. 2006a)] a piece (ibid.). The FBIS report also mentioned that officers from the economics crime unit were concerned about the number of fake passports they confiscated at the Rinas Airport in February and March of 2005 (ibid.).

Another June 2005 FBIS news article describes an incident in May where police arrested 16 undocumented persons who were attempting to enter Greece via the Gjirokaster-Kakavije highway (US 10 June 2005). The would-be migrants were from various regions of Albania and possessed falsified documentation that reportedly cost each individual 3,300 EUR [approximately 4,683 (CAD) (Bank of Canada 6 Oct. 2006b)] (ibid.).

In October 2005, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) reported the takedown of a "mega laboratory" in Albania that was forging various travel documents, including passports and visas, as well as American Green Cards, unspecified ID cards, bank cards and telephone cards (7 Oct. 2005). During the raid about 1,000 passports from 29 countries, including Canada, the United States, and Australia were confiscated (ATA 7 Oct. 2005). Additionally, a number of border passage stamps for Greece and Italy were found, as well as stamps from the Albanian consulate in Washington, other unnamed Albanian ministries, and entry and exit stamps for Rinas Airport (ibid.). The Associated Press (AP) also reported that the same police operation involved the arrest of nine individuals, including four Tirana airport law enforcement agents, three other airport officials and two tourism agency owners who were all charged for forging travel documents and selling them to prospective illegal migrants (7 Oct. 2005).

In December 2005, the British Broadcasting Coporation (BBC) Monitoring European, citing information from the Tirana-based newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare, stated that, based on information obtained during the October "mega laboratory" shut down, the police had arrested six more Albanians in Tirana, Korce, and Vlore on charges of human-trafficking and using false documents (Gazeta Shqiptare 8 Dec. 2005). The forged travel documents were reportedly "close to perfect and very difficult to detect with the existing equipment" (ibid.).

According to a news article citing the Deputy Interior Minister Iva Zajmi, country-wide law enforcement operations from September 2005 to February 2006 broke up six major criminal gangs, including human-trafficking networks involved in the production of false travel documentation, such as seals, passports, and visas (Rilindja Demokratike 21 Feb. 2006). In addition, police operations resulted in the arrests of 32 individuals and the confiscation of equipment used to fabricate false documentation and counterfeit currency (ibid.).

From May to September 2006, however, news sources continued to report the arrest of individuals using forged travel documentation (US 14 Aug. 2006; ibid. 24 July 2006; AP 18 Sept. 2006). In May 2006, Astrit Zequiri, Chief of the Tepelene Police and former Democratic Party official, was arrested for selling 100 forged passports with false names to persons sought by the police (US 14 Aug. 2006). Other news articles reported the following: the arrest of a former nightclub owner for falsifying visas and for his alleged involvement in human trafficking (ibid.), the arrest of two young persons at the Mother Theresa Airport in Rinas for possessing forged travel documentation (US 24 July 2006), the arrest of a Tirana resident suspected of forging various government documents, including customs certifications, driver's licenses, and certificates of ownership (ibid.), and the arrest of two Albanians and four foreigners at Rinas airport for using falsified travel documents (ibid.).

In a September 2006 article, AP describes the arrest of two individuals for the production of false documents in Korca, a town in the southeastern part of the country (18 Sept. 2006). At the scene of arrest, the police found various forged travel documents, including visas, passports, and unnamed identity cards (AP 18 Sept. 2006).

Government measures to address fraudulent documents

The European Commission's 2005 Progress Report for Albania notes that the government has initiated a number of reforms to reduce the use of false travel documents and to improve border surveillance (EU 9 Nov. 2005, 57). Initiatives such as the introduction of new ten-year passports featuring undisclosed security characteristics, as well as technological improvements at immigration checkpoints at border crossing areas have resulted in significant gains in border control (ibid.). In particular, the government has enhanced IT networking capability, increased access to document scanning equipment, and introduced "mobile surveillance units" (ibid.). Despite these improvements, however, trafficking and illegal migration to neighbouring countries such as Greece "remain problematic" (ibid.). The report also noted that legislative reform of visa issuance procedures is essential to further improve border control (ibid.).

An August 2006 article in the Southeast European Times reports that Albania will begin issuing new digitally-enhanced passports by the end of 2007 (31 Aug. 2006). The new document will be named the Albanian Electronic Passport (AEP) and will contain 48 pages with an integrated micro chip in the back cover to allow for electronic scanning and instant access to information (Southeast European Times 31 Aug. 2006). The AEP will also feature digital data, including a photograph and fingerprints (ibid.). In addition, the article reports that the Interior Ministry has chosen the following colours for the AEPs: mauve for regular passports, dark green for diplomatic passports and black for service passports (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). 7 October 2005. "Forgery Industry in Apartment of Head of Criminal Organization of Trafficking of Human Beings." (Factiva)

Associated Press (AP). 18 September 2006. "Albanian Police Arrest 2 People for Producing Fake Documents." (The New Anatolian Web site) <http://www.thenewanatolian.com/ap-253013.html> [Accessed 27 Sept. 2006]
_____. 7 October 2005. Llazar Semini. "Albania Police Arrest Nine Linked to Fake Passport Ring." (Factiva)

Bank of Canada. 6 October 2006a. "Currency Conversion Results." <http://www.bankofcanada.ca/cgi-bin/famecgi_fdps> [Accessed 6 Oct. 2006]
_____. 6 October 2006b. "Currency Conversion Results." <http://www.bankofcanada.ca/cgi-bin/famecgi_fdps> [Accessed 6 Oct. 2006]

European Union (EU). 9 November 2005. European Commission (EC). Albania: 2005 Progress Report. <http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/pdf/key_documents/2005/package/sec_1421_final_progress_report_al_en.pdf> [Accessed 27 Sept. 2006]

Gazeta Shqiptare [Tirana, in Albanian]. 8 December 2005. "Albanian Police Crack Down on Human Trafficking Ring." (Factiva/BBC Monitoring European)

Rilindja Demokratike [Tirana, in Albanian]. 21 February 2006. "Albanian Government Announces Crime Successes Over Past 6 Months." (WNC/Dialog)

Southeast European Times [Tirana]. 31 August 2006. Erlis Selimaj. "Albania to Issue Digital Passports." <http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/print/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/08/31/feature-03> [Accessed 27 Sept. 2006]

United States (US). 14 August 2006. US Department of Commerce, National Technical Infromation Service (NTIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 16-31 May 06." Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Report (WNC/Dialog)
_____. 24 July 2006. US Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service (NTIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 1-15 May 06." Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Report (WNC/Dialog)
_____. 10 June 2005. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 7-13 May 05." (WNC/Dialog)
_____. 3 June 2005. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 30 Apr-6 May 05." (WNC/Dialog)
_____. 21 February 2005. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 5-11 Feb 05." (WNC/Dialog)
_____. 25 January 2005. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 8-14 Jan 05." (WNC/Dialog)
_____. 18 January 2005. Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). "Highlights: Albania Crime and Corruption Issues 1-7 Jan 05." (WNC/Dialog)

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), European Country of Information Network (ECOI), Factiva, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), United Kingdom Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), United States Department of State, World Bank, World News Connection (WNC).

Topics: False documents,