Anti-smuggling operation in the north: 10 arrested and more than 20 vehicles seized

A police operation targeting the smuggling of goods was carried out on Thursday at 22 locations in four northern municipalities of Kosovo. Ten people were arrested and more than 20 vehicles were seized. The initial estimated value of the goods suspected of being smuggled is more than 200,000 euros.

The operation was conducted in coordination with the Tax Administration and Kosovo Customs, while the actions were carried out under the supervision of the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica.

Veton Elshani, deputy director of the Kosovo Police for the northern region, said the investigation had begun six months earlier, based on information gathered by the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA).

According to Elshani, after consultations with a prosecutor at the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica and the issuance of an order to conduct an investigation, work on the case began in April this year.

After six months of investigation, the authorities launched the operation and carried out raids at 22 addresses. Nine were in North Mitrovica, five in Zveçan, five in Zubin Potok and three in Leposaviq.

Elshani said 10 people had been taken to the police station on suspicion of involvement in the case. After they are interviewed, the prosecutor is expected to decide on the next legal steps.

Because of the large quantity of goods found, searches continued at some of the raided locations.

More than 20 motor vehicles were seized during the operation, including cars, SUVs and two trucks. According to the authorities’ initial assessment, the total value of the goods suspected of being smuggled exceeds 200,000 euros. The vehicles were seized on the prosecutor’s orders, and the course of action regarding them will be determined later.

The seized items include textiles, medicines, food products and other goods.

Investigators suspect that the goods were brought from Serbia through the Bërnjak border crossing and then transported to Mitrovica. There, according to the suspicions, documentation was obtained to make it appear that the goods had been purchased in Mitrovica.

The goods are then suspected of having been transported for sale in Pristina. Elshani explained that, under this scheme, a truck coming from Serbia crossed the Bërnjak bridge, passed through the border crossing of the same name, continued to Mitrovica and was given documents showing the goods as having been purchased in that city.

Valon Preteni, spokesperson for the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica, confirmed that the case is being handled by the justice authorities through regular proceedings.