Kumanovo police operation targets organized crime with arrests and searches over extortion, loan sharking and money laundering

A major police operation targeting an organized crime group has been underway in Kumanovo since this morning. The operation involves arrests of people suspected of extortion, loan sharking and blackmail, as well as searches at several locations.

The operation was announced by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Interior. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, a public prosecutor from the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption is directing and coordinating the actions of officers from the Ministry of Interior’s Department for Combating Organized and Serious Crime.

The searches are being carried out under orders issued by the competent public prosecutor’s office and aim to gather evidence of extortion, laundering money and other proceeds of crime, and negligent performance of official duties, the Prosecutor’s Office said. It said it would provide information to the public once the operation had been fully completed.

The Ministry of Interior also confirmed that the operation was continuing and said further details would be released after its completion.

The ministry’s statement said officers from its Department for Combating Organized and Serious Crime were conducting searches in coordination with the competent public prosecutor from the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Investigation and Prosecution. The ministry clarified that the actions relate to extortion, laundering money and other proceeds of crime, and negligent performance of official duties.