Durres Albania

Afghanistan (Tier 3)Afghanistan is a country of origin and transit for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and labor. Internal trafficking of women and children for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor also occurs. Afghanistan was under two different governments during this period: the Taliban and the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA). Until December 22, 2001, when the AIA took over there was no functioning central government. During most of 2001, the Taliban, a Pashtun-dominated fundamentalist Islamic movement, controlled approximately ninety percent of the country. Taliban forces were responsible for disappearances of women and children, many of whom were trafficked to Pakistan and the Gulf States. Under the Taliban, women and girls were subjected to rape, kidnapping, and forced marriage. Since the AIA took over, there ar ... [Read More]

Europe and Central Asia

AlbaniaI. Summary Drug trafficking is a significant problem in Albania, which is a major transit country for heroin from Afghanistan and Turkey destined for markets throughout Europe. Organized crime groups use Albania as a transit point for drug and other types of smuggling due to the country’s strategic location, weak police and judicial systems, and porous borders. The most common illegal drugs are heroin, marijuana, and to a lesser extent, cocaine. Heroin is typically transported through the "Balkans Route" of Turkey-Bulgaria-Macedonia-Albania, and on to Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. Cocaine is smuggled from South America, via the United States, Italy, Spain, Greece or the Netherlands, and ... [Read More]

Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Albania

The 2003 case against operators of a child trafficking ring in Durres, involving a port custom officer and the head of local SHISH office, had not gone to trial by the year's end. ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TRANSCRIPT: PENTAGON BRIEFING ON "TASK FORCE FALCON," JUNE 29, 1999

You remember we were talking about our initial footprint into Albania. We basically had one airfield, and we had to do a significant amount of improvement on an airfield. You look at the lines of communication on the ground -- that one road in Albania through Kukes, the one road from Skopje into Kosovo, the draft of the port in Durres, all significant logistics challenges, especially with the infrastructure. ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: FACT SHEET: USAID ON KOSOVO REFUGEE EFFORTS MAY 10

-- According to the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), an additional 1,000 refugees have voluntarily moved to Durres where crowded conditions already exist. The Government of Albania has made a request to donors to provide more refugee camps in the area. ... [Read More]

Albania

On October 21, police arrested a couple suspected of having trafficked 12 minors to Italy for use as beggars. The couple was caught with two children, aged 11 and 12, whom they had kidnaped from a family in Durres. The couple has been charged with trafficking children; their case was sent to court but remained pending at year's end. ...

Although the number of Albanians subjected to trafficking to other countries has decreased, Albania remained a significant country of origin. Most trafficked women and young girls are transported to Italy, Greece, and to a lesser extent, other European countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. Due to the poor economic situation, many women and young girls from all over the country--particularly Berat, Fier, Lushnje, Shkoder, and Vlora--were lured by men and women working in organized criminal groups who promised them jobs in Italy and Greece. Some men, primarily in the north of the country, also marry women and girls under false pretenses and take them abroad as prostitutes. Other forms of recruitment include promises of marriage, and to a lesser extent, the selling of victims to traffickers by family members, or kidnaping, including from orphanages. Most of these victims were taken to the southern port city of Vlora for transport by speedboat to Italy, although the port of Durres ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

At present, travel in the northeastern section of the country has restrictions.  The northeast is defined as the area east of the Shkoder-Mamurus national Road and north of the Shkoder-Kukes National Road.  Travel in the northeast requires a fully armored vehicle (FAV) and a security vehicle escort with bodyguard. There are no restrictions for travel in the rest of Albania other than no driving between cities at night.  If you are traveling to a particularly isolated area, check with the RSO Office.  There are several short day trips available, including to Kruja or Durresi.  Kruja is a popular shopping spot with rug and antique shops.  The old city with its ancient churches and Turkish baths is of interest, as are the ruins of Skanderbeg’s castle and a Communist-era museum devoted to the hero.  Durresi has important archaeological sites and a museum which is being expanded and improved in addition to beaches and fine seafood restaurants. ... [Read More]

Albania

The law criminalizes trafficking in persons and provides penalties for traffickers; however, trafficking in persons, particularly women and children, remained serious problems. Police corruption and involvement in trafficking was a problem. A 2001 Criminal Code amendment introduced specific articles on trafficking that set the following penalties: Trafficking in persons (5 to 15 years in prison); trafficking of women for prostitution (7 to 15 years in prison); and trafficking in minors (15 to 20 years in prison). The General Prosecutor's office and police did not follow through on plans to establish an Organized Crime Strike force to handle high profile and sensitive cases. The lack of prosecution of traffickers remained a problem. During the year, 17 people were convicted for trafficking in persons. Traffickers who were arrested often were released because of insufficient evidence. If prosecuted, they often were charged for lesser cri ... [Read More]

Albania

e. Acceptable Conditions of Work The legal minimum wage for all workers over the age of 16 was approximately $85 (9,354 lek) per month, which was not sufficient to provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Many workers looked for second jobs, which were difficult to find. Remittances from those working abroad were very important for many families. The law provides for social assistance (income support) and unemployment compensation; however, these were very limited, both in terms of the amounts received and the number of persons actually covered. The average wage for workers in the public sector was approximately $160 (17,608 lek) per month. Persons who worked and lived in urban areas earned almost 50 percent more than counterparts in rural areas, as a result poverty was greater in rural areas. Approximately 30 percent of the population lived under the official poverty line. [Read More]

Albania (05/05)

Major cities: Capital--Tirana (700,000). Others--Durres (400,000), Shkoder (81,000), Vlore (72,000). ...

Albania shares a border with Greece to the south/southeast, Macedonia to the east, and Serbia and Montenegro (including Kosovo) to the north and northeast. Eastern Albania lies along the Adriatic and Ionian Sea coastlines. Albania's primary seaport is Durres, which handles 90% of its maritime cargo. ... [Read More]