State Police Director General Skënder Hita is leading a delegation on a working visit to Italy, where Italian Police Chief Prefect Vittorio Pisani welcomed him in Rome.

During the meeting, both officials praised the excellent bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership and investigative and operational cooperation between the two police forces.

In particular, they highlighted the success of joint investigative teams targeting organised crime and cybercrime, describing them as an important model of cooperation at the European level.

“I thank you for the warm welcome and the Italian Police for its longstanding support for the State Police. I am committed to preserving and further strengthening our excellent relations and mutual trust. One of my main priorities as State Police Director General is to deepen cooperation with our partners, particularly strategic partners such as Italy. We must work together to make our partnership more effective, tackle emerging forms of crime and stay one step ahead of criminal organisations,” Hita said.

For his part, Pisani welcomed Hita’s priorities and commitment to continued cooperation. He also pledged his and the Italian Police’s full support for their Albanian counterparts, describing relations between the two forces as a successful model worthy of emulation.

Pisani also called for intensified joint efforts against criminal groups, illegal trafficking and cybercrime. In addition, he reaffirmed Italy’s annual support for aerial surveillance to prevent the cultivation of narcotic plants.

During the meeting, both police chiefs pledged to step up information sharing, coordinate investigations and conduct further joint operations.

They also stressed the need to strengthen professional capacities and police intelligence to address emerging security challenges. Particular attention will focus on combating radicalisation and violent extremism, as well as protecting cyberspace from criminal threats.

Close cooperation between the two police forces remains essential to dismantling cross-border criminal organisations, identifying and locating wanted individuals, exchanging criminal intelligence and conducting joint investigations and operations. Through these efforts, both countries aim to deliver a coordinated and effective response to evolving criminal threats.