ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R006400110007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: February 24, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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or
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
WWI Defense Of the United States within the mean-
ing of the lispionage Laws. Title it U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 191, the transmission Cr revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law.
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SECREt.
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COUNTRY Albani REPORT
SUBJECT Organization and Function of the DATE DiSTR
24 February 1955
Ministry of Interior
CW pAcws 10
DATE OF INFO.
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
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PLACE ACQUiRED
REPERENCES
TME SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS WORT A N DEFINITIVE.
TME APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
NOR ItlY RE MOM
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Organization of the Ministry of Interior
1. The Ministry of Interior is under the direction of a Minister, a Deputy Minister
and three Assistant Ministers. The Deputy Minister directs the day-to-day affairs
of the Ministry and each of the three Assistant Ministers heads one of the
following offices:
a. DIRECTORATE FOR THE SIGUR1MI I MET= - State Security
b. DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF POLICE
c. DIRECTORATE OF THE BORDER GUARD
2. In addition to the Directoratea, there are two separate units within the Ministry;
namely,
a. Headquarters for the Si rimi i Shtetit Special Brigade
b. An independent Po1iticl 0Mce which is responsible for the political,
cultural and physical education of the personnel in the Directorate of State
Security and the Directorate General of Police. This office is closely
linked with the Central Committee of the Albanian Workers' (Communist) Party.
DIRECTORATE FOR THE SIGURIMI I SHTETIT - State Security
Headquarters Organization and, Function Sigurimi
3. There are 10 functional branches in the Directorate for State Security. There was
an Economic Branch, but it has been dboliehed. The 10 branches are as follows:
External (Foreign) Br.5221...(Branch II.
This branch is concerned with espionage in foreign countries.
gblf!RPIT
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STATE
ARMY
NAVY
AIR Fel
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b. Internal Branch (Branch II)
This branch ie charged with organizing informers in towns throughout the
country. Reactionary elements are used because only they can obtain the
confidence of other reactionary elements who are the principal targets of
operations run by this branch. Recruitment is made chiefly among people
who have been arrested and are released on condition that they work as
informers. A system of secret arrest is very frequently used and every
effort is made to recruit the person. This type of recruiting ie done
both by the Internal Branch directly and by the local or field representa-
tives. Agents recruited under this system are not trained. They are
given limited instructions and a contact address of their Sigurimi case
officer.
c. Criminal Branch (Branch III)
This branch is concerned with espionage in the country districts by
foreign agents, "diversionists" and illegal groups inside the country.
On discovering illegal groups, the local field office of the branch con-
tacts the local police and armed civilians. The Special Brigade is called
to handle only a large group.
d. Cadre (?) Branch (Branch IV)
This branch is responsible for the organization and training of cadres.
e. Counterespionage Branch (Branch V)
This branch is concerned with the detection of foreign espionage
Albania, apart from illegal groups. Its activities are centered
towns. In 1949-1950, a large group was organized in Tirana
discovered and severely dealt with.
inside
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in the
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f. Communications Branch (Branch VI)
This branch is ccncerned with the internal communications complex of the
Directorate of State Security which includes telephones: W/T and R/T.
g. Investigations Branch Branch VII)
This branch assumes jurisdiction over arrests not involving cases of
ordinary crimes and conducts investigations of such arrests. If the
person arrested is considered guilty, he is. referred to the State
Prosecutor and any information of intelligence value is passed to
Branches II and III. Investigations are usually conducted by district
offices, except in cases of larger groups of accused persons or special
cases, at which time the Branch handles the case directly. This branch
consists of a Chief, Deputy Chief, 3 chief investigators, 10 to 12
investigators, assistant investigators and a clerical staff.
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h. Personal Security Branch (Branch VIII - For the Protection of the Leaders)
This branch is concerned with the personal security of Government and
Party leaders and other importent personnages. For example, Mehmet
Shehu is always escorted by 2 or 3 officers and on extensive trips, the
leaders are always provided with an elaborate escort.
i. Statistics Branch (Branch IN)
No information.
J. !!'...ESEJITE111...12321.4c1221---/
Until 19480 the Army Security office was stationed at Army General Head-
quarters. At that time it was moved to the Ministry of Interior. This
branch has officers and agents throughout the 'Army.
Field Organization and Function - Sigurimi
4. For the purpose of administration, 26 towns in Albania are divided into categories
as follows: 11 in Category I, 9 in Category II and 6 in Category III. In each
of the Category I towns, there is an Executive Committee with a Branch of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs 43 This committee is under the control of the Ministry.
In the Category II and III towns there are sections of the Ministry.
5. In each of the local branches there are Sigurimi officers and police officers. A
Sigurimi officer heads the branch. In matters pertaining solely to police affairs,
the local Police Chief conducts his business directly with the Directorate General
of Police in the Ministry of Interior. The police handle cases involving ordinary
crimes and the Sigurimi handles cases concerning "crimes against the State". After
a preliminary investigation of the case has taken place, a decision is made as to
which of the two services will assume jurisdiction.
6. The local Sigurimi Branch and the Police OPfice are approximately the sane in
their organizational structure and vary only in accordance with local needs. The
Tirana Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Branch has Sections corresponding to
some of the Branches in the Directorate of StateSecurity, i.e., Investigation,
EsrionaRe, etc. Branch personnel consists of a Chief, 3 Assistant Sigurimi
officers, Chief of Police, an assistant Chief of Police and other officers. The
investigation Section has three investigators. In the town of Korce, there are
tyn assistant Sigurimi officers.
7. Sections 'n Category II and III towns have the following personnel: a chief,
naptstant chief for Sigurimi and an assistant chief for police affairs. These
sections Ilso have an Investigation Section with one or two investigators assigned
to the section.
? 8. In towns below Category III, such as Kavaje and Shijak, the branch has one officer
who is known as the "Sigurimi worker" and a police officer.
9. At Lokalitetes there is a police officer but no Sigurimi officer (or "worker");
however, Lokalitetes are visited regularly by Sigurimi officers from neighboring
branch offices.
10. $igurimi officers are issued uniforms and civilian clothing and may dress in
either, according to their needs. When in the country districts, they usually
dress in civilian clothing. Small villages have no regular police officers, hence
every man must perform two months of police duty without pay. Sigurimi" informers
in the villages perform the security function.
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Training and Schools - Sigurimi
11. The Sigurimi school for officers is in Tirana on the Elbasan road. There are
no regularly established schools for agent training. Agents are given limited
training for their particular missions. At Durres, there is a special covrrae for
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sabotage, mining, etc. Similar course's are offered at Elbasan. Training 5 -HUM
usually consists of how agents conduct themselves and clandestine contacts
12. Mehnet Shehu had directed that all Sigurimi officers should undergo intelligence
training in the Soviet Union. In fact, many have taken such training courses
lasting from 1 to 4 years. These courses cover espionage, counterespionage,
technical methods
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Control of the Army - Sigurimi
13. Each army division an brigade has a Sigurimi section. A brigade
officer is assigned to each regIllit?iu.
14. As a general rule, L:ommanding officers and political commissars of military
organizations are supposed to be kept informed of the work being done by the
Sigurimi Section or officer. In point of fact, however, they are not.
15. Sigurimi officers recruit agents in military unite. These agents are either
recruited on a voluntary basis by stressing patriotic motives, or by pressure.
For example, in the 13 Infantry Regiment, 3 soldiers plotted to desert but were
caught and arrested. One was recruited and sent as an agent to another unit.
Special Brigade - Sigurimi
16. Headquarters of the Special Brigade is housed in its own building on the Elbasan
Road on the outskirts of Tirana. The building stands approximately 30 to 40
meters to thE west of the road. West of headquarters building are barracks for
the Brigade troops.
17. The Brigade is organized into approximately four battalions which are made up of
companies, platoons and sections. These units, however, do not consist of the
normal number of troops for Albanian Army units. The total number of officers
and men in the Brigade is not known, but it is estimated at 1,000. The number
of battalion headquarters scattered through Albania is not known, but there are
more deployed in northern than in southern Albania. Battalion headquarters are
usually set up in a fixed position while the companies and platoons bivouac in
the country side ready for action. Small groups are, at times, sent on clandestine
missions to test the security of local communities.
18. Each battalion has its own transportation facilities for quick mobility.
19. In 1952, Mehnet Shehu established a new organization. Each local Branch of
Internal Affairs was alloted a small force of 20 men. These troops were equipped
in the sane manner as members of the Brigade and were to be called first, to
handle any organized civil disobedience. It can be assumed that this ready force
is better organized now and additional (200-250) troops have been added to the
units. The principal advantage to these special troops is quick action when needed
DIRECTORATE OF TBE BORDER GUARD4
20. The Directorate has its own office building in Tirana on the Elbasan road, and is
organized into various branches; i.e., operations, political quartermaster and
others. There is a special section for training.
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21. Prior to 1952, there was a direct line of command between frontier battalions
and tbr, Directorate. Since 1952, however, five frontier zones have been created
with intermediate headquarters at Shkoder, Pershkopi, Elbasan, Korce and Gjino-
kaster. A commandant with a staff consisting of a political commissar, chief of
staff and a quartermaster, head each zone. There are sections and branches
corresponding to those in the office of the Directorate. Each zone controls one
or more battalions. Companies and platoons attached to the battalions man the
frontier posts. Each post has approximately 12 men. Frontier troops are equipped
with German type weapons and they have not been issued any Soviet type weapons.
22. The Korce zone controls the frontier area from Erseke to Qafa e Thanes, north
of Pogradec.
23.
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF POLICE
The Directorate of Police was a weak organization and the last of the three
directorates to be organized. Until 1951, it had no secret agencies of its own.
Since 1952, however, under the supervision of Soviet instructors, its function
as a police organization has greatly improved. Some of the branches in this
directorate are as follows:
a. Branch of Prisons and Camps
This branch is responsible for the organization and supervision of
prisons and camps and has no jurisdiction over the punishment of
criminals.
b. Quartermaster Branch
This branch handles supplies for the Directorate General of Police and
the Directorate for State Security. It utilizes prison labor.
c. Investigation and Law Branch
This branch is responsible for non-political crimes.
24. The Directorate has a police school which is located next to the new prison in
Tirana.
Personalities in the Ministry of Interior
25. Ministers
Minister General Kadri HAZBIU
Deputy Minister Not listed
Assistant Ministers Colonel Mihallaq ZICISHTI - Sigurimi
Lt. Colonel Ndriko RINO - Border Guard
(Third not listed) - Police
26. Directorate Officials
Sigurimi i Shtetit
Police
Colonel Mihallaq ZICISRTI, Chief
Lt. Colonel Stavro TRESKA, Chief of Staff
(7^1^71P1 Saliko SULO, officer
Captain let Class Maliq JAUPI, officer
Captain Qemal BALLUKU, advisor
Lt. Gago KOLLUMBI, Chief of Quartermaster
Branch
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Border Cuard
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Lt. Colonel Ndriko RINO, Chief
Lt. Colonel Xbavet PETRELA, Chief of
Training
27. Special Brigade (of the Directorate of State Security)
Colonel Gjeli ARGIRi, Commandant
Political Office (of the Directorate of State Security)
Lt. Colonel Gani GOKEE, Chief
Branches of the Directorate Sigurimi i Shtetit
28. Branch I (External)
Branch II (Internal)
Branch III (Criminal)
Branch IV (Cadre)
Branch V (Counterespionage)
Branch VI (Communications)
Branch VII (Investigations)
Branch VIII (Personal Security)
Branch IX (Statistics)
Branch X (Army)
Town Branches (Internal Affairs)
29. Chief, Peshkopi
Chief, Elbasan
Chief, Erseke
Chief, Elbasan
Chief, Kukes
Chief, Pogradec
Deputy Chief, Shkoder
Deputy Chief, Durres
Deputy Chief, Herat
Not listed. (Lt. Colonel Ilmi SATTI,
formerly Chief of Branch I, his current
position is not known.)
Delo BALILI, Chief
Lt. Colonel Zoi THEMELI, Chief
Major Rexhep KOLLI, Chief Deputy
Major Idri SAITI, Chief of Section
Lt. Colonel Nexhat HYSENI, Deputy Chief
Colonel Niko CETA, Chief
Major leak LILA, flaief
Lt. Colonel Shahin PANAR1TI, Chief
Major Xhavit STRUGA, Deputy Chief
Captain let Class, Herad MANE, Chief
Investigator
Lt. Adem ABMETI, Investigator
Lt. Haki ITA, Investigator
Lt. ColonelGetih*NOKTHINA, Chief
Captain let Class, Gani VAJZA, member
No information
No information
Major Banus GOXHE
Lt. Colonel Petrit HEKAMI
Captain let Class, KICO (fnu)
Lt. Colonel Hani NASKA
Lt. Colonel Kopi NIKO
Major Nuci TTRA
Captain let Class Irakli KOCANI
Captain let Class Shim KOLI
Captain Ilo RUMBULLAKU
Comment:
until 1950. 7-
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Some German and Austrian prisoners of war remained in Albania
RPrIMP
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Comment: Chiefs of local Internal Affairs Branches are also members
of the Politburo of the local branches of the Albanian Workers' (Communist)
Party.
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For alphabetical listing of the personalities in the Ministry of Interior
see Appendix I.
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Alphabetical Listing
ABMETI, Adem Lt.
Gjeli Col.
SALMI, Delo
BALLUKUI Qemal Capt.
CETA, Niko Col.
GOXBEI Banush Maj.
OOXBE, Gani Lt. Col.
HASHADARI, Nefsat Col.
HAZBIU, Xhdri Oen.
MAXI, Petrit Lt. Col.
MUNI, Nexhat Lt. Col.
JAUPI, Maliq Capt. let Clans
ITA, Haki Lt.
KICO, fnu Capt. let Class
KOCANI, Irakli Capt. let Class
KOJA, Avram Maj.
8
Appendix I
Investigator in Branch VII
From Korce. Commandant of the Special
Brigade of the Directorate of State
Security.
Chief of Branch II (Internal Branch).
(Brother of Gen. BALLUKU), advisor in
the Directorate General of Police.
From Korce. Chief of Branch V (Counter-
espionage). In 3.947-48 be was let Judge
of the Military Court.
Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch in
Peshkopi.
Chief of the Political Office
Attended a course in the Soviet Union
and holds a high technical office.
Minister of Interior since 1954. He was
formerly let Assistant Minister.
Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch in
Elbasan. Be formerly held the same yogi-
tion in Vlone.
Deputy Chief of Branch IV (Cadre Branch)
In the Sigurimi Directorate, formerly
Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch.
Investigator in Branch VI/ (Investigations)
Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch at
Erseke.
Deputy Chief of the Internal Affairs
Branch in Shkoder.
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Formerly Chief of Branch V. (Counterespionage)
He has been transferred to the Centre'
Committee of the Albanian Workers' (Communist)
Party tc head the Sigurimi section.
KOLII Shim Capt. let Class Deputy Chief of the Internal Affairs
Branch in Durres.
KOLLI, Rexbep Maj. Deputy Chief of Branch III. (Criminal)
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KOLLUMBI, Gago Lt. Col. Chief of the Quartermaster Branch,
Ministry of Interior.
XOLOLLI, Pasho Capt.
LILA, Isak Maj.
Formerly at Pogradec
Chief of Branch VI (Communications). He
attended a signal communications course
in the Soviet Union.
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MANE, Herad Capt. let Class Chief Investigator in Branch VII. (Investi-
gations)
NASXA, Jani Lt. Col.
NIKO, Mid Lt. Col.
PANARITI, Shahin Lt. Col.
PKRISTERI, Gatio
PETRELA, Xheldet Lt. Co]..
PULLUMBI, Wein Lt.
RING, Ndriko Lt. Co].
RUMMULLAXU, Ilo Capt.
SABI, idri Maj.
SAlTI, Ilmi Lt. Col.
SEM, Kali
SMOKTHINA, Getih Lt. Co]..
SULO, Saliko Lt. Col.
STRUGA, Xhavit 1,14.
THRWLI, Zoi Lt. Col.
TIM, Nuci Maj.
Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch in
Elbasan. He has been sent to the Soviet
Union for intelligence training.
Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch in
Mee.
Chief of Branch VII (Investigations). He
was formerly Chief of Branch IV (Cadre).
Formerly Chief of the Internal Branch
(Branch II), he is now in charge of the
Religion Branch of the Prime Minister's
Office (sic).
Chief of the Training Section in the
Border Guard Directorate.
Deputy Chief of the Internal Affairs
Section in Pogradec.
Assistant Minister and head of the
Directorate of the Border Guard.
Deputy Chief of the Internal Affairs
Branch in Berat.
Chief of Section in Branch III (Criminal).
Formerly Chief of Branch I (External Branch),
his current position is not known. '
Civilian employee of Branch I (External
Branch).
Chief of Branch VIII (Personal Security).
Officer in the Border Guard Directorate.
Deputy Chief of Branch VII (Investigations).
Chief of Branch III (Criminal)
Chief of the Internal Affairs Section in
Pogradec and runs operations into Greece.
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TRESKAI Stavri Lt. Col.
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Chief of Staff of the Border Guard. An
officer during the German and Italian
occupation. A member of the Partisan
forces in 1911.3. Trained in the Soviet
Union.
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VAJZA, Gani Capt. lot Class Member of Branch VIII (Personal Security).
KHELO, Ralim Lt. Col. Chief of the Internal Affairs Branch in
Tirana.
ZICISRTly:Milihilaq Col..
Assistant Minister and head of the
Directorate for the Sigurimi i Shtetit -
State Securl.ty.
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