The Kosovo Police and the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo have announced that, during an operation carried out on 30 June 2026 in Pristina, assets worth approximately €1 million were seized as part of an international investigation into money laundering linked to drug trafficking.
According to a joint statement, the operation was conducted in cooperation with Italian and French authorities, under the coordination of Europol and Eurojust, focusing on the transnational laundering of criminal proceeds.
Police said that analysis of seized evidence and information obtained through mutual legal assistance from Italy helped identify bank accounts, business interests, real estate, and luxury vehicles owned by a Kosovo couple residing in Italy.
The couple is under criminal investigation in Italy on suspicion of money laundering and was arrested in France in September 2025 after authorities discovered more than 56 kilograms of gold bars and €2.5 million hidden in modified compartments of two vehicles.
In the same month, authorities also seized additional assets worth over €30 million linked to a transnational criminal network involved in laundering proceeds from drug trafficking in France.
Investigations suggest that cash was converted into gold to conceal its illegal origin and facilitate cross-border transportation of criminal assets, particularly toward Kosovo, Turkey, and Morocco.
As part of the execution of the mutual legal assistance request, the Special Prosecution, in coordination with the Kosovo Police, carried out procedural and investigative actions that led to the identification, tracing, and seizure of assets within Kosovo.
Authorities emphasized that Europol and Eurojust provided significant support throughout the investigation, facilitating operational and judicial cooperation between France, Italy, and Kosovo in the fight against organized crime and money laundering.
