Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Availability of Fraudulent Identification and Official Documents

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an officer at the US Embassy in Tirana stated that Albania is a "hot bed" for fraud and corruption, and that fraudulent documents "seem to be readily available and easily accessed" (US 2 Sept. 2021). According to a report by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) of the EU, the number of fraudulent documents used to travel from the EU to the UK "significantly increased" by 70 percent from 2014 to 2016, which is "mostly attributable to the increasing number of Albanian nationals often misusing Italian and Greek ID cards" (EU 2016, 25). The Officer indicated that the "amount of fraud has dropped significantly" due to COVID-19, but that the US Embassy in Tirana "has seen" fraudulent documents "passing through the airport" (US 2 Sept. 2021). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the executive director at the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG) in Albania, a civil society organization that develops programs relating to democracy and governance (CSDG n.d.), indicated that the availability of forged ID and travel documents "has been comparatively reduced" since the introduction of biometric documents "about a decade ago" (Executive Director 29 Aug. 2021). The same source noted that the "introduction of e-services and digital seals over the last couple of years have also contributed to addressing the problem" (Executive Director 29 Aug. 2021). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

The Officer stated that fraudulent documents range from high school diplomas of "medium to poor quality, to legitimate passports [that are] fraudulently obtained" (US 2 Sept. 2021). According to VisaGuide.World, an online guide for visa information (VisaGuide.World n.d.), Albanian border police caught 39 individuals attempting to travel to the UK with fake Italian, Greek, Romanian and Bulgarian fake passports; the police indicated that the passports were "high in quality and almost identical to the originals" (VisaGuide.World 10 Jan. 2019).

According to the Officer, prices for fraudulent documents range according to the quality of the documents and how difficult they are to obtain (US 2 Sept. 2021). The same source stated that the US Embassy in Tirana has "heard reports" of fraudulent US visas "costing north of" 30,000 Euros (EUR) [C$44,758] while documents of poorer quality cost 200-400 (EUR) [C$298-C$597] in Albania (US 2 Sept. 2021). According to the Associated Press (AP), fraudulent identity documents were sold for "around" 8,000-12,000 EUR in Albania (AP 27 July 2018). According to VisaGuide.World, high-quality fraudulent EU passports can be purchased "for around" 300-500 EUR in Albania (VisaGuide.World 10 Jan. 2019). The Malta Independent, a newspaper in Malta, states that an Albanian man purchased three "fake" Italian travel documents for 1,200 EUR from Albania because he was "refused" a visa to travel to England (The Malta Independent 23 Dec. 2018).

2. State Efforts to Combat Fraud

The Officer indicated that the Government of Albania is "supportive to combating document fraud" (US 2 Sept. 2021). According to the same source, the government

approved the creation of a three-person vetted police unit [in 2020] to work directly with the [Investigative Assistant to the Assistant Regional Security Officer Investigator (ARSO-I) in the] Tirana office [of the US Embassy] to combat document fraud. [In 2021], the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was created. The mandate of the NBI is to combat corruption and organized crime. All NBI case[s] will be sent to the new court: Special Prosecutor for Anti-Corruption (SPAK). (US 2 Sept. 2021)

The Fourth Report Under the Visa Suspension Mechanism by the EU's European Commission states that Albania "continued" to cooperate with Frontex and Member States on the identification of forged travel documents and identity fraud (EU 4 Aug. 2021, 4). The same source notes that Member States "report good cooperation with Albania in the field of migration and border management," and that Albania "enjoys the most advanced level of collaboration" with Frontex (EU 4 Aug. 2021, 3). A news release by Frontex indicates that Albanian authorities "reaffirmed the strategic role of document checks" during an online meeting with Frontex and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) "in view of the recent surge in forged documents connected with COVID-19" (EU 4 May 2021).

Various sources report different instances where Albanian security forces arrested individuals accused of forging documents:

• In March 2018, the US Diplomatic Security Service "assisted" the Albanian State Police (ASP) with an operation that resulted in the arrest of 39 people who were "suspected of smuggling Albanian citizens" into the US, Canada, and the UK using "falsified travel documents and identities" (US 26 Mar. 2018). During the same raid, Albanian law enforcement officials seized computers, laptops, printers, phones, vehicles, firearms, and "several documents and supplies that can be used to create and falsify identifying documents" (US 26 Mar. 2018).
• In July 2018, Albanian police arrested nine individuals for "allegedly" taking part in an "organized crime ring" that issued fraudulent Italian and Greek identity documents (AP 27 July 2018).
• In February 2019, Albanian police arrested 32 individuals, including a policeman, and seized equipment [for forging travel visas (VisaGuide.World 7 Feb. 2019)] (VisaGuide.World 7 Feb. 2019; AP 2 Feb. 2019).
• In March 2020, the ASP coordinated with Italian and UK law enforcement agencies to arrest 12 individuals and "seized a laboratory used for producing counterfeit ID documents" (EU 10 June 2020, 49).

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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Associated Press (AP). 2 February 2019. "Albania Police Arrest 32 in Counterfeit Travel Visa Scheme." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

Associated Press (AP). 27 July 2018. "9 Albanians Arrested on Alleged Counterfeit Visa Scheme." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG). N.d. "Mission and Goals." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2021]

European Union (EU). 4 August 2021. European Commission. Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Fourth Report Under the Visa Suspension Mechanism. (COM(2021) 602 Final) [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

European Union (EU). 4 May 2021. European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). "Frontex and OSCE Discuss Preventing Document Fraud." [Accessed 26 Aug. 2021]

European Union (EU). 10 June 2020. European Commission. Commission Staff Working Document: Albania 2020 Report. (SWD(2020) 354 Final). [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

European Union (EU). 2016. European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). Risk Analysis for 2016. [Accessed 26 Aug. 2021]

Executive Director, Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG). 29 August 2021. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

The Malta Independent. 23 December 2018. "Man Purchased Three Fake Documents from Albania for €1,200." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

United States (US). 2 September 2021. US Embassy in Tirana. Correspondence from an officer to the Research Directorate.

United States (US). 26 March 2018. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). "Diplomatic Security Service Helps Bust Major Human Smuggling Operation in Albania." [Accessed 26 Aug. 2021]

VisaGuide.World. 7 February 2019. Shkurta Januzi. "Police Arrests 32 Travel Visa Forgers in Albania." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

VisaGuide.World. 10 January 2019. Shkurta Januzi. "39 People with Fake EU Travel Documents Stopped at Albanian Airport Last Month." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

VisaGuide.World. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 25 Aug. 2021]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Albania – Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Ottawa, Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Washington D.C., Department of Anti Trafficking and Migration, Department of Jurisdictional Relations and International Judicial Cooperation, Department of International Relations; Albanian lawyer who specializes in criminal and human rights law; Balkan Investigative Reporting Network; Independent researcher who specialized in political, security, religious, and cultural issues in the Balkan region; Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; US – Customs and Border Protection, Diplomatic Security Service.

Internet sites, including: Albania – Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania, Prime Minister's Office, State Police; Albania News; Al Jazeera; Aleat Identity Services; Amnesty International; Australia – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Balkan Investigative Reporting Network; BBC; Bertelsmann Stiftung; City of London Police; Council of Europe; EU – Schengen Visa; Euronews Albania; Euro Weekly News; Exit News; France24; Freedom House; Gloucestershire News Service; The Guardian; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; INTERPOL; Ireland – Department of Foreign Affairs; The Irish News; The National Post; The Northern Echo; Oculus News; Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; Parlementaire Monitor; POLITICO; Reuters; UK – Home Office; UN – UN Office on Drugs and Crime; US – Attorney's Office (District of New Jersey), Customs and Border Protection, Embassy in Albania; Vancouver Sun; Xinhua News Agency.