State Police

The United Kingdom-Albania-Kosovo-Montenegro-North Macedonia Joint Task Force on Migration is a unified operational front against important issues of the day, such as illicit migrant movements and the circulation of criminal assets.
Initially a product of close bilateral cooperation between the Albanian State Police and their British counterparts, the Task Force has evolved into a comprehensive regional initiative and a successful model for other European states to follow.
Today’s session took place in Tirana and included the General Director of the State Police, Major Director Ilir Proda; the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Intelligence and International Operations at the UK Home Office, Vikki Pullen; the General Director of the Kosovo Police, Gazmend Hoxha; the Acting Director of the Montenegrin Police, Lazar Ščepanović; and the General Director of North Macedonia’s Public Security Bureau, Aleksandar Janev. Senior leaders of regional police forces also participated.
Today’s meeting demonstrated the serious and determined commitment of police services and law enforcement agencies in the region and the United Kingdom to combating illegal migration. This issue jeopardizes public safety, creates conditions for border illegality, and enables criminal groups to evade justice in affected countries. It also enables the international circulation of criminal assets, including cryptocurrencies.
During the meeting, existing cooperation bridges were strengthened, particularly regarding the immediate exchange of information, joint patrols along green borders, coordination of operational actions at border crossing points, intensification of controls and detections through modern technological equipment, and establishment of joint investigative teams. These measures are expected to lead to police operations with regional impact.
General Director Ilir Proda, co-chair of this session, stated during his remarks:
“In cooperation with British authorities, 49 repatriation operations have been carried out, enabling the return of 2,099 Albanian citizens via correct and transparent procedures that focus on respecting human rights and freedoms. Additionally, the number of attempts to cross the Channel toward the United Kingdom using dinghies has significantly decreased—from 12,753 cases in 2022 to just 644 cases in 2024. This drastic drop demonstrates the real impact that structured cooperation can have.
Although Albania has achieved significant results, neither it nor any other country in the region can face these challenges alone. The issue of irregular migration targeting the EU affects the entire Western Balkans region. Criminal networks that exploit our citizens take advantage wherever they find an opening.
Your presence here today is not just protocol; it is a real opportunity to open a new chapter of regional cooperation. We are prepared to share our operational models, offer the expertise of our Task Force, and establish joint mechanisms to prevent, verify, and combat cross-border crime.
Our approach is simple: increased information exchange, faster verification, synchronized operations, unified standards, and modern technology utilization.”
Meanwhile, the UK Deputy Director of Intelligence and International Operations stated:
“This session provides an opportunity to reflect on our achievements, see how the Task Force model has evolved, and explore the opportunities it presents. Beyond the significant drop in illegal dinghy crossings, which the Director highlighted, this Task Force model has evolved into a regional platform that addresses other threats associated with illegal migration.”
Then, Colonel Gazmend Hoxha, the Director of the Kosovo Police, emphasized:
“The results of this task force over the past year are very tangible and visible. They include preventing migrant smuggling along the Albania–Kosovo border, confiscating a large number of forged documents within Kosovo, curbing tobacco and cigarette smuggling at Pristina Airport, and dismantling criminal groups involved in weapons trafficking in Albania and Kosovo. Other operations related to drug issues were also carried out.”
Next, the Acting Director of the Montenegro Police said:
“Today’s meeting is of great strategic value given that Montenegro has long been a transit country. Therefore, it is essential to have inter-sectoral and international cooperation to prevent illegal migration and the movement of criminal organizations. We have had excellent cooperation with our Albanian colleagues. Together, we prevented the kidnapping of ten individuals. The Albanian side shared information with us in real time. Our joint cooperation spans various areas and will continue as such.”
Mr. Janev, the director of North Macedonia’s Public Security Bureau, added, “We must avoid bureaucracy and find ways to increase cooperation and establish a shared vision to make this region safer and more stable. We must address irregular migration through an analytical lens so that we can work together to prevent this criminal activity. We are here to exchange experiences and knowledge to minimize this activity.”
The Regional Task Force on Migration will continue to coordinate investigative and operational work. Key objectives include combating border crimes, tracking criminal assets, and ensuring public safety and the rights of citizens of participating states and beyond.