Tens of thousands of dollars in counterfeit metals, two persons arrested

Kosovo police report that, on Thursday evening, the Kosovo Police Economic Crimes Unit has cut off a collection line of counterfeit money brought to Kosovo by North Macedonia. According to the announcement, the line has been unable to use tens of thousands of euros in Kosovo, until two suspected persons have been arrested and the money seized.

According to the media report, the Directorate for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption, the Regional Unit for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption in Ferizaj, following the several-month investigative action company, has managed to secure material evidence that initial suspects (A.L. and V. F.) are bringing money to the counterfeit mountain from the Republic of northern Macedonia in the Republic of Kosovo.

“In this case, the Agency for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption in Ferizaj assisted by the Directorate of Economic Crimes and Corruption Investigations has prepared an operational plan coded by the name “Taxist 2023<2> and today, at the date 13.04.2023 during the implementation of this plan, at the Feriz-Canic magistrate, unable to bring counterfeit money to our country. During the realisation of this plan in a very efficient way, Kosovo Police have managed to seize 50 (50) packages by a total of ten thousand (110,000) counterfeit money in banknotes from two (2) euros. Also during the implementation of the plan, six hundred euros (600) of the other two (2) counterfeit euros” has been confiscated.

In the course of this operation, according to the same report, based on the prosecutor's verbal order of the case, the check has been conducted/substantiation at two locations, one in the village of Rakaj-Ferizaj and the other in Han, Elez.

“During implementation of the potential operational plan has been temporarily confiscated: Fifty (50) package- Although ten thousand (1,000) Euro-a package of 200 by two (2) Euros, which are suspected to be forged; Six hundred (600) euros of two (2) counterfeit euros; A Mercedes car, property of suspect (A.L.); An Opel Vektra car, property of suspect (A.L.)”, police report

By investigative actions and evidence allegedly there is reasonable doubt that suspects committed criminal acts “Forging money under the RKS penal code.

“In this way the Directorate for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption, namely, the Regional Unit for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption in Ferizaj has cut off a counterfeit money supply line and has made it impossible for suspected persons in question to not bring counterfeit money to the Republic of Kosovo” in the future, the statement said.

All investigative actions have been co-ordinated with the competent PTH-Ferizaj Prosecutor, and after the completion of the operational plan, suspects (A.L. and V. The F.) in the presence of defence attorneys have been interviewed, and under the prosecutor's decision they are detained for 48 hours to proceed to legal comment.

Kosovo police reportedly remain committed to fighting all kinds of crime, and “to persons involved will have zero tolerance”.