Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SKOPJE65
2009-02-13 14:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
ADDENDUM TO 2009 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT FOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSQ #0065 0441414 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 131414Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8023 INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0036 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 4476 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 3671 RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
C O N F I D E N T I A L SKOPJE 000065
SIPDIS
G/TIP, G-ACBLANK, INL, DRL, PRM, EUR/PGI, EUR/SCE, INFO
USAID, DOJ, DHS, DOL, DOT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2013
TAGS: PREF PHUM KCRM KTIP KWMN SMIG ASEC ELAB MK
SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO 2009 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT FOR
MACEDONIA
Classified By: CDA THOMAS NAVRATIL FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SKOPJE 000065
SIPDIS
G/TIP, G-ACBLANK, INL, DRL, PRM, EUR/PGI, EUR/SCE, INFO
USAID, DOJ, DHS, DOL, DOT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2013
TAGS: PREF PHUM KCRM KTIP KWMN SMIG ASEC ELAB MK
SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO 2009 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT FOR
MACEDONIA
Classified By: CDA THOMAS NAVRATIL FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The following information serves as an
addendum to Macedonia,s 2009 TIP report and provides details
about ongoing criminal investigations into trafficking and
smuggling related corruption by government officials. The
information was passed to Post in high confidence by the Head
of the Sector for Anti-Trafficking and Smuggling in Persons
and labeled &classified8 by Macedonia,s Ministry of the
Interior (MOI). Investigations are underway for suspected
cases of corruption within immigration enforcement and
airport police. (End Summary)
2. (C) During a raid on a club in the village of Bogovinje,
police identified a number of Serbian citizens working as
waitresses and prostitutes with apparently valid residence
permits. Upon further investigation police identified one of
the Serbs as a woman previously deported and banned from
re-entry into Macedonia. Further investigation by the MOI
revealed that her residency permit had been forged. The
Sector for Internal Control is currently conducting an
investigation into the likelihood that immigration officials
are forging residency documents.
3. (C) In similar raids in Tetovo and Gostivar, police
discovered female citizens of Albania, Kosovo and Serbia
illegally employed and carrying work permits bearing the
names of Macedonian citizens with whom they had no connection
and the addresses of residences where they had never stayed.
Another investigation exposed a number of Albanian and
Kosovar females who obtained residency permits through
fictitious marriages. The MOI believes both sets of crimes
are related and the Sector for Internal Control is also
conducting investigations into these falsified work and
residency permits.
4. (C) In a migrant smuggling operation dubbed &Meni8 the
MOI placed an undercover agent in the Skopje airport to
investigate police corruption related to migrant smuggling.
The report verified corrupt activities in the airport and was
recently sent to the Public Prosecutor for Organized Crime to
seek formal charges and begin prosecution.
NAVRATIL
SIPDIS
G/TIP, G-ACBLANK, INL, DRL, PRM, EUR/PGI, EUR/SCE, INFO
USAID, DOJ, DHS, DOL, DOT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2013
TAGS: PREF PHUM KCRM KTIP KWMN SMIG ASEC ELAB MK
SUBJECT: ADDENDUM TO 2009 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT FOR
MACEDONIA
Classified By: CDA THOMAS NAVRATIL FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The following information serves as an
addendum to Macedonia,s 2009 TIP report and provides details
about ongoing criminal investigations into trafficking and
smuggling related corruption by government officials. The
information was passed to Post in high confidence by the Head
of the Sector for Anti-Trafficking and Smuggling in Persons
and labeled &classified8 by Macedonia,s Ministry of the
Interior (MOI). Investigations are underway for suspected
cases of corruption within immigration enforcement and
airport police. (End Summary)
2. (C) During a raid on a club in the village of Bogovinje,
police identified a number of Serbian citizens working as
waitresses and prostitutes with apparently valid residence
permits. Upon further investigation police identified one of
the Serbs as a woman previously deported and banned from
re-entry into Macedonia. Further investigation by the MOI
revealed that her residency permit had been forged. The
Sector for Internal Control is currently conducting an
investigation into the likelihood that immigration officials
are forging residency documents.
3. (C) In similar raids in Tetovo and Gostivar, police
discovered female citizens of Albania, Kosovo and Serbia
illegally employed and carrying work permits bearing the
names of Macedonian citizens with whom they had no connection
and the addresses of residences where they had never stayed.
Another investigation exposed a number of Albanian and
Kosovar females who obtained residency permits through
fictitious marriages. The MOI believes both sets of crimes
are related and the Sector for Internal Control is also
conducting investigations into these falsified work and
residency permits.
4. (C) In a migrant smuggling operation dubbed &Meni8 the
MOI placed an undercover agent in the Skopje airport to
investigate police corruption related to migrant smuggling.
The report verified corrupt activities in the airport and was
recently sent to the Public Prosecutor for Organized Crime to
seek formal charges and begin prosecution.
NAVRATIL