Albanian FBI Agent Dies

Hamdi Costuri, had emigrated to the United States in 1999-2000, and amid many attempts to continue a better life away from his new home, Costuri managed to obtain his passport and then enter the FBI.

Shortly he became a special agent, and about two weeks ago, the Albanian public saw him rank in support of people who investigated and discovered 7 structured criminal groups in various states who had smuggled about a thousand Albanians into the United Kingdom, the US and Canada.

But a week after this very successful operation, 39-year-old Hamdi Costuri has been separated from his life. Express learns he has had a heart attack at the house he lives in Tirana.

He was originally from Fushe Kruya. A very skilled investigator who co-ordinated the work between the Albanian police and who brought the successful finalization of the mega-operation coded “One If É Land BY”.

US Ambassador to Albania Donald Lu, who attended a procession ceremony in honour of the Albanian Special Agent, arrived in the State Police environment yesterday. Present were State Police Director Ardi Veliu and Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj. Hamdi Kosturi's mother and brother was awarded a tribute to the rare contribution the 39-year-old has made during the implementation of his mission.

Costur was a special agent of the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service brought to Tirana near the US Embassy. (United States Diplomatic Security Service ( The DSS, or DS, is the federal law enforcement and security force of the United States State Department.

The DSS is an American law enforcement organisation abroad. The tasks of DSS Special Agents include protecting US diplomatic missions, US diplomats and visiting foreign personalities, conducting criminal investigations against visa fraud and passports, counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence.

Special DSS agents introduced to Regional Security Offices advise US ambassadors on security issues, law enforcement issues, management or implementation of security programmes worldwide. National Security Department agencies (DHS), namely the U.S. Border Control Agency, as well as National Border Protection and Protection Centre, are the two agencies that have assisted in the development of investigations.

Also in this megaoperation, four State Police officers, with border crossing controls at Border Cross Points, Hani of Hoti and Qafe Than, were arrested, who have abused the task by failing to register smuggled citizens at border crossings contrary to the law. Each person was paid out of 70,000 pounds for the United Kingdom and between $25,000 and $30,000 for US and Canada. /Express