TIRANA, Nov 10 /ATA/ The effectiveness of the Police is ultimately measured by the sense of security among citizens, the protection of young people and the ability to restrict the operating space of criminal groups by targeting their financial resources.
Interior Minister Ervin Demo conveyed this message at a joint press conference held by the State Police and Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, where the results of aerial surveillance operations over Albanian territory in 2026 were presented.
Highlighting the 15 years of cooperation between the State Police and Guardia di Finanza in monitoring Albania’s territory from the air, Demo described the partnership as a testament to the strong institutional trust, operational coordination and concrete results achieved over the years.
“For me, the success of the Police is not measured solely by the number of operations, arrests or hectares monitored. These are important indicators that help us assess what we have achieved and where improvements are needed. However, the ultimate measure is how safe citizens feel, how much less room criminal groups have to operate across the country, and how effectively we protect young people and children from negative influences. The fight against crime is not a numbers game, but an obligation to the people who expect greater security, peace of mind and protection from us,” Demo said.
Demo stressed that tackling organised crime requires targeting not only criminal group members but also their financial resources, highlighting joint investigations, cooperation with Italian anti-mafia authorities and asset seizures as key measures. He also pointed to a rise in joint police operations with international partners, from 53 to 108 in a year, underscoring Italy’s role as a key partner in combating organised crime and drug trafficking.
Demo highlighted the strengthening of operational cooperation with Italy, including aerial monitoring from May to October and the deployment of 18 joint teams, stressing that security is essential to Albania’s sustainable development and EU integration, as well as its contribution to the security of the European Union as a whole.
Demo stressed the need to continually strengthen international cooperation to counter evolving criminal methods, thanking Italy for its longstanding support and reaffirming the two countries’ shared commitment to protecting citizens and ensuring security in Albania and across Europe.
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