4.1 Presence in Albania Activities Related to Threats Posed by Criminal Activity Criminal Investigations and Analysis On 11 and 12 October, the Presence collaborated with ICITAP and the ASP Security Academy for a ToT course on sexual assault investigations. Twenty officials from the Security Academy who attended the course transferred their knowledge subsequently by training other ASP officers. In recognition of the serious crime of sexual assault, the ASP established a Sexual Assault Focal Point in 2018. To support the newly formed Focal Point, the Presence supplied it with stationery and office equipment. To enhance its work, the Presence provided two sets of anatomically correct doll families to assist in interviewing children in sexual assault and abuse investigations. On 14 and 15 November, the Presence, in collaboration with PAMECA V, implemented a workshop on “International Judicial Co-operation with EU Members States − Joint Investigation Teams”. The workshop included representatives from Bulgaria, France and Italy, as well as from the Support to Anti-Cannabis Strategy – Air Surveillance (SANCAS) project, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA 2017), Albania’s Serious Crimes Prosecutors Office, the General Prosecutors Office and the Judicial Police. The workshop’s aim was to inform and encourage the use of Joint Investigative Teams in combatting transnational organized crime. The event encouraged Albanian prosecutors and judicial police officers to use Joint Investigative Teams as an alternative tool for this co-operation, to find the best approach and reach the necessary results in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime. Illicit Drugs and Chemical Precursors On 16 and 17 July, the Presence supported two members of the ASP Sector against Narcotics and Trafficking to attend the OSCE-wide drug conference held in Vienna. Topics discussed at the conference included integrated and mutually reinforcing programmes to reduce supply and demand of illicit drugs; the relationship between drug control policy, security and development; prevention, early intervention and education; and development of an international drug control system. From 27 to 29 November, the Presence supported the attendance of a member of the ASP Sector against Narcotics and Trafficking to a training course on cocaine smuggling by the CEPOL. The aim of the course was to exchange experiences on the routes and modus operandi related to 46 cocaine production and trafficking from the source countries into the EU, and identify opportunities for operational cooperation with partners in other EU countries and worldwide. Course topics included: the strategic picture of the illicit cocaine market; trends in cocaine trafficking, method of operation and smuggling routes; operations against cocaine producers and smugglers; preventing cocaine smuggling to Europe; anti-smuggling strategies in co-operation with source countries; the cocaine signature programme; and cocaine concealments. Cross-Border Co-operation in Criminal Matters During 2018, the Presence enhanced its support to the BMP through a series of activities intended to strengthen the BMP’s standards and promote trans-border joint activities, including operations and information sharing, in compliance with recognized international best practices. International co-operation and intelligence sharing is of crucial importance given developments in recent years with regard to irregular migration. Furthermore, the Presence continued its longlasting support to the cross-border co-operation mechanism by organizing a series of strategic meetings to promote and facilitate international dialogue, co-operation and information exchange. In May, at the request of the Director of Albania’s BMP, the Presence organized and facilitated three meetings with BMP’s respective counterparts in Prishtinë/Priština, Podgorica and Skopje. The purpose of these meetings was to co-ordinate efforts in strengthening border control for Albanian citizens who travel via the airports of these cities towards the Schengen zone of the EU to seek asylum. From 3 to 5 August, the Presence organized and facilitated a strategic central-level meeting between Albanian and Greek Border Police delegations. The focus of the meeting was on measures taken for the tourist season, trafficking of narcotics and irregular migration. The meeting was followed by inspection visits at border crossing points between the two countries. From 15 to 17 October, a study visit was organized for four members of the working group to the Advanced Passenger Information Center in Schiphol Airport. The Presence continued its support for the establishment of an API system in Albania. After the establishment of the working group on API, its activities were focused on an amendment of the existing legislation. From 5 to 9 November, the Presence organized a workshop for the API working group that drafted legal amendments to the Law on Border Control, necessary to enable the operability of the API.