A month-long police investigation in Dibër has led to the arrest of a Bulgarian citizen and the exposure of a document falsification scheme aimed at securing Bulgarian passports for multiple individuals.
Authorities from the Dibër Local Police Directorate successfully concluded the operation, codenamed “Identiteti,” following proactive investigations using special methods. The operation targeted a suspected network involved in falsifying civil registry documents to falsely present individuals as residents of Ostren, a prerequisite for obtaining Bulgarian citizenship documentation.
The investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Border Police Commissariat Dibër and under the direction of the Prosecution Office of Dibër, resulted in the arrest of a 49-year-old Bulgarian citizen identified as E.T. He was detained at the Bllatë Border Crossing Point while attempting to leave Albania.
During a vehicle inspection, border police discovered 21 documents suspected to be forged, each linked to different individuals. The documents were allegedly intended to facilitate applications for Bulgarian passports, raising concerns about cross-border document fraud and illegal migration pathways.
In addition to the arrest, authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against two local officials: the current and former administrators of the Ostren administrative unit in the Bulqizë Municipality. They are suspected of abuse of office and falsification of civil status documents, allegedly issuing fraudulent residency confirmations in violation of the law.
Investigators believe these actions enabled individuals to falsely claim eligibility for Bulgarian citizenship. The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to fully document the network and identify other individuals involved.
The operation underscores ongoing efforts by Albanian law enforcement to combat financial and document-related crimes, particularly those with international implications.