The Special Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kosovo in cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction in Tirana, after more than nine months of investigations, destroyed a criminal group of arms trafficking, active in both countries.

This is what the prosecution announced through a press release, saying that by order of the Special Prosecution, on December 10, 2024, the Kosovo Police developed an operational plan in the field, in which case search warrants were carried out in nine locations owned by the suspects.

"During the control order in these locations, including the implementation of the orders for the special technical measures of the investigation, among other things, the following were found and seized: Twenty-nine (29) pistols and three (3) long guns of various confiscated models; Two thousand six hundred and thirty-five (2635) cartridges/ammunition of different models; Two vehicles and other equipment. Eight (08) suspected persons were arrested and taken into custody, six of them Kosovar citizens, while two of them citizens of the Republic of Albania. The arrested persons are: VO, KK, SH, Sh.J., AH, ZA, AD, BA", says the announcement of the prosecution.  

It is further stated that in coordination with the PSRK and the Kosovo Police on November 11, 2024, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office of the First Instance Court of the General Jurisdiction of Tirana, as a function of this proceeding, an operation was carried out to execute detention orders for 6 persons. and housing control for 7 countries.

"During this operation, they were arrested for the criminal offenses 'Trafficking of arms and ammunition' carried out in collaboration and 'Trafficking of arms and ammunition' carried out in collaboration provided by article 278/5/ and 278/a/2 of the Penal Code of 6 persons: EMEPAMG Ll. KM and T.Sh. During this operation, 22 'Zoraki' firearms, an Ak 47 firearm, an offensive hand grenade and 470 cartridges of various types were seized. Also, 3 vehicles and a significant amount of money and 10 mobile devices were seized," the announcement states.

The Special Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kosovo has announced that in April of this year, it received information related to the suspicions that some citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania are engaged in the import, export, supply, transportation, mediation and sale of unauthorized use of weapons or explosive materials.

"After receiving this information, the PSRK authorized the Kosovo Police to undertake investigative actions in order to collect evidence. From the investigations developed through special investigation measures, cases of the sale of firearms, mainly 'Zoraki' pistols, trafficked from Kosovo to Albania have been documented. Within the framework of legal authorizations and in coordination with the Police and the competent Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Albania, investigations have been carried out in both countries, while on 28.06.2024 an Agreement was signed on the Establishment of the Joint Investigative Team, supported by the EUROJUST Project for the countries of the Western Balkans. The investigations have also been supported by EUROPOL", it was said in the communique.

After the signing of the agreement and the exchange of information, the joint investigative groups stated in the announcement that several operational meetings were held in the function of this proceeding.

According to the announcement, the Special Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kosovo will decide on other actions, in coordination with the competent authorities of the Republic of Albania, depending on the reports that will result from these raids.