New details from the major action leading to the destruction of Kosovo's arms trafficking criminal group- Albania

The prosecution in Albania has provided more details in the case. According to the announcement, investigations date back to February of this year. From recent investigations, it turns out that the suspects were responsible for the supply, transport, and sale of weapons or explosive materials, creating a complicated import and export route.

During the investigation under operation “ation”, 64 firearms and military ammunition have been seized in total, of which 23 weapons have been seized by the services of the Tirana Police Directorate and 41 weapons have been seized in Kosovo.

The allegations date back to February of this year, where, following information collected on the operational route by the Department for Investigation of Illegal Trafficking in the Tirana Local Police Directorate for allegedly V.O. in collaboration with other persons, Albanian citizens and Kosovars carry out the illegal activity of arms trafficking in Kosovo, as well as the trafficking of narcotics mainly cocaine from Albania to Kosovo, criminal prosecution No.1167 for criminal work ʹTrafi of arms and ammunition carried out in co-operation and design and non-mission of combat weapons and ammunition envisioned by us 278 and 278/2 of the Criminal Code.

From the ongoing investigations, it turns out that the suspects were responsible for the supply, transport, and sale of weapons or explosive materials, creating a complicated import and export route”, becomes known in the report.

Since this group consisted of citizens from Kosovo and Albania, the institutions of two states signed in June of this year the Agreement on the Founding of the Joint Investigative Team, supported by the EUROOPOL and the Project EUROJUSS for Western Balkan countries and between the region and the EU in fighting organised crime and terrorism. Through this team, Albanian and Kosovo authorities could quickly and easily co-operate, exchanging information in real time.

According to the announcement, following the investigation, on the date 10,12,2024 around 9:00 and Kosovo Police in the function of joint prosecution have conducted police operations where, among other things, 29 pistols and 3 long weapons of various models, 2635 bullets/munification of the different model, 2 vehicles and other TIC equipment. While eight people were detained and arrested during these operations. Concretically citizens V.O., K.C., S.H., S.J., A.H., Mr.A., A.D., and B.A.

In co-ordination with the Kosovo Police at about 3: 00 p.m., following the 1112.24th Prosecution Against the First Court of General Jurydiction Tirana, the operation was conducted on the execution of the detention orders for 6 people and housing control for 7 countries. During this operation were detained for criminal acts “arms and ammunition trafficking” carried out in co-operation and “Trafficking of arms and ammunition” conducted in co-operation envisioned by Article 278/5/ and 278/a/2 of K. Penal of six people: E.M. 20, EP. 34-year-old A.M. 28 years old LIL 22.M. 26 years old; and T.S., 53-year-old

A Ak 47 firearm, an offensive grenade and 470 bullets of various kinds were seized during the operation. Also seized were 3 vehicles, and considerable amounts of money and 10 mobile devices” are made known in the announcement.

Meanwhile, media in Albania report that this group of weapons was taken from Turkey and modified in Kosovo, while the rest were taken by Serbia.

Their transport was carried out by buses and small vehicles, each selling between 800 and 1,000 euros. The group was trafficking not only weapons in Albania, but also from Kosovo to European Union countries.