Goods smuggling is causing major damage to Kosovo

Economy expert Safet Gerjaliu tells Radio Kosovo that smuggling goods has not been only one-way, smuggling has been multiethnic in Kosovo.

Gerjaliu says there must be good dialogue in order to have rule of law and rule of law.

“Today truly competition is vulnerable in Kosovo. If we refer to World Bank data and other international institutions, smuggling in Kosovo is really disturbing. It's time for action, not only with physical steps but we need dialogue and awareness”, Gerjaliu said.

Meanwhile, Security expert Nuredin Ibishi says smuggling goods greatly affects our stability as a state.

According to him, the north has always been problematic in the sense of trafficking not only of goods as food or medical products but also of arms, drugs, and human trafficking.

“In the security aspect, it affects a lot. This has reached huge proportions in the northern part, where many of the criminal groups have grown and received addresses in organizing military formations and have brought multiples here. If they did not close alternative roads and the control system at the border checkpoints practiced by police and customs, then the risk for security is even higher”, Ibishi said.

Unlike Kosovo Police data, there were 128 smuggling cases in 2022, already in the January-May period of this year alone, 55 cases of smuggling on borders have been recorded.