After an investigation that lasted several months nine traffic police officers ended behind bars in the city of Fier on Wednesday accused of graft.

"The officers are accused of corruption, suspected of receiving bribes in the Lushnja-Fier-Vlora highway in order to annul fines for drivers," the General Police Directorate said in a statement.

Eight other officers from the same district are also under investigation suepcted of graft.

The investigation was launched by the Joint Investigative Unit to Fight Economic Crime and Corruption in the Fier prosecutor's office, in cooperation with the Internal Affairs Office of the Ministry of Interior.

The Joint Investigative Unit to Fight Economic Crime and Corruption, which includes prosecutors, police officers, intelligence, customs and tax officials, began two years ago with its first office in Tirana.

The success of this unit has not only been a model for Albania but for other regional states as well. Montenegro has organised a new taskforce of prosecutors and police using the Albanian unit as a model.

BalkanInsight              14/01/2010