Albania: UK Helicopter Search for Missing Migrants Albania's military says British helicopters have joined a search for 27 migrants reported missing while trying to cross illegally by speedboat to nearby Italy. The British forces were taking part in an exercise in the area and on Tuesday joined Albanian and Italian coast guard vessels in the search in the Strait of Otranto, which separates the two countries. The Albanian army said authorities received an emergency call from the migrants late Monday, adding that Albanians and migrants from several Middle Eastern countries were believed to be on board. Albania is a transit point for illegal immigration to Italy, typically after migrants have traveled across Turkey and neighboring Greece.