Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination

2.4 Organised crime
Indicator: Trafficking in human beings
Efforts made in 2008 in the fight against organised crime focused on prevention, fight against trafficking in
human beings and the identification, provision of assistance and protection of victims or potential victims of
trafficking. Data from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and State Police (see Figure 3) indicate a reduction in the
number of women trafficked and increase in the number of people apprehended while trying to cross national
borders illegally.
Figure 3. Number of trafficked females 2005–2008
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
81
41
22 23
2005 2006 2007 2008
Source: MoI, State Police
In 2008, 73 per cent of border crossing points (the main ones) were computerised through installation of
a Total Information Management System (TIMS) in the main BCPs. In addition mobile surveillance units
started operations. This helped considerably the work of the Border and Migration Police. Upgrading of border
control and surveillance equipment shortened the time needed to process travellers and vehicles at border
crossing points and improved border security. Continuous training of Border and Migration Police officers
and signature of agreements and protocols of border cooperation with neighbouring countries contributed
towards increased effectiveness. With regard to cross-border cooperation, joint border patrols are conducted
with Macedonia and Montenegro. The Muriqan-Sukobine joint border crossing point with Montenegro was
constructed and became operational in 2009. Synchronised patrols were conducted with the Kosovo Border
Police and joint operations were carried out with Greek Police to strengthen border security.
This year, the number of victims and potential victims of trafficking reported by government and nongovernmental
institutions was estimated, and a database on victims of trafficking became operational, accessible
by the competent authorities and the Office of the National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. This database,
which provides information on how specific trafficking cases are being managed, plays an important part in
updating information between initial identification of a potential victim and full re-integration. Furthermore,
the functioning of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking was improved and, as a result,
the number of victims identified rose five-fold when compared to the previous year.
A moratorium for complete blocking of speedboat movements and prosecution and conviction of traffickers have
continued. Criminal activities related to trafficking of human beings, such as assisting illegal border crossing,
people smuggling, exploitation for prostitution and mistreatment of juveniles, continue to remain a problem.
Services to re-integrate victims are still lacking, for which competent bodies have started to take necessary
steps. A cooperation agreement for creation of a national referral mechanism to improve identification and
provision of assistance to victims of human trafficking is a valuable instrument that will improve coordination
of actions for referral, assistance and rehabilitation.
Furthermore, the law on prevention of money laundering and fight against terrorism and the respective legal
NSDI 2008 Progress Report | 19