An action developed between the Albanian State Police, the Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana and the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Diplomatic Security Service of the State Department of the US Department of State led to the arrest of 5 people, while another was declared wanted. From this action, the American visa fraud scheme as well as the smuggling of human beings was discovered.
Regarding this operation, the US embassy in Tirana also reacted, thanking the Albanian authorities for the cooperation. “The US Embassy thanks the Albanian State Police and the Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana for their cooperation with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Diplomatic Security Service of the US Department of State, which led to today’s arrests,” the statement said.
“The U.S. Embassy thanks the Albanian State Police and the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office for their cooperation with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Overseas Criminal Investigation Unit which led to today’s arrests. We deeply appreciate our partnership with Albanian State Police General Director Muhamet Rrumbullaku, Director of Criminal Police Neritan Nallbati, Chief of the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office Arenc Cela, Case Prosecutor Drini Pali, and the dedicated officers of the Albanian State Police.
The Overseas Criminal Investigation Unit was established at U.S. Embassy Tirana in 2012 and is responsible for conducting criminal investigations of illegal passport or visa issuance or use; identity theft and/or document fraud affecting or relating to the programs, functions, or authorities of the U.S. Department of State, and crimes relating to terrorism, human trafficking, human smuggling, and other types of transnational organized crime. The U.S. Embassy is committed to investigating and working with our partners to prosecute those who commit visa fraud.
The U.S. Embassy urges all visa applicants to submit their electronic visa applications directly and not through “so-called” travel agencies, visa consultants, or other companies offering to provide visa services. Visa applicants should also be wary of scams on social media platforms that claim to guarantee U.S. visas.”
