U.S. Export and Border Security Assistance Mission Contributes Nuclear Material Detection Equipment to Albanian Customs and Border Police (October 7, 2008)

U.S. Embassy Chargé Steve Cristina and U.S. Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) Mission Chief Matthew Jones participated today at an equipment handover ceremony with the Albanian Customs Director Përparim Dervishi, Border Police Director Pëllumb Nako and Radiation Protection Office Chief Rustem Paçi.  Cristina stressed the importance of cooperation with the Albanian authorities in strengthening border control and security as a means to ensure the safety of Albanian citizens and beyond.

The EXBS-provided equipment will be used in Albanian ports of entry to prevent illegal smuggling of nuclear material or dual use technologies. The total cost of the project, including equipment and related training, amounted to 400,000 dollars.

The donation was preceded by an equipment training conducted in Shkodër and Hani i Hotit border crossing point. Twenty-two Albanian Customs and Border Police officers were trained by two U.S. Customs and Border Police instructors on equipment operation and investigative techniques to be used at ports of entry.

Since the start of its operations in Albania in 2005 the EXBS program has organized 20 trainings for over 130 Customs, Border Police, and Radiation Protection officers.  EXBS works closely with the Albanian Customs and Border Police to help them achieve required security standards at its ports of entry.