Military equipment and clothing found hidden in manholes in Mitrovica, Shala: The case cannot be viewed as an isolated incident

During a routine patrol on “Zoran Gjingjiq” Street in North Mitrovica, the Kosovo Police found military equipment and clothing hidden inside a sewer manhole.

According to an official statement, at around 1:30 p.m., officers from the North Mitrovica Police Station were carrying out their regular duties when they noticed an open manhole. After inspecting the area, the police found a black plastic bag, which appeared suspicious to them.

The bag was removed and examined, revealing several items of military clothing and equipment inside. These included five green military caps, two chest rigs with spaces for ammunition, a military belt, pouches for carrying magazines, and other equipment intended for military use.

The state prosecutor was informed of the discovery. At his direction, no criminal proceedings will be initiated at this stage.

All of the equipment found was seized, while investigations are under way to clarify the circumstances and determine whether any individuals were involved in the case.

Security expert Drizan Shala told “Bota sot” that the incident should not be considered merely an isolated case.

He called for no conclusions to be drawn before the investigation is completed, but stressed that the manner in which the equipment was hidden and the location where it was found raise serious questions.

According to Shala, the discovery of military equipment and clothing hidden in a sewer manhole is particularly significant because it occurred in North Mitrovica, an area that has experienced tensions, outside influence and activities by illegal hybrid structures. For this reason, he considers the case a signal requiring greater attention from the institutions responsible for security.

The expert said that, until the investigation is completed, no final conclusions can yet be reached. Nevertheless, the concealment of military-grade items in a public space raises questions about who placed them there, when they were left there and what their purpose was.

Shala does not rule out the possibility that the equipment was intended for or used in unlawful activities, including destabilizing actions. He links this concern to previous security incidents in the north and attacks against Kosovo institutions.

According to him, the fact that the items were secretly placed inside public infrastructure could indicate that someone had attempted to keep them out of the sight of citizens and authorities.

He said that a sewer manhole is not a typical place to store equipment. Choosing such a location contains an element of concealment and raises suspicions that the equipment was intended to remain hidden for a certain period of time.

According to the security expert, the case should be treated as a warning to increase monitoring, improve the exchange of information and strengthen preventive capabilities.

Shala called on the Kosovo Police to conduct a full investigation to establish the origin of the equipment and verify whether it may be linked to individuals or organized groups. He said the investigation should also include searches for other similar storage sites where uniforms or other equipment may have been hidden.

He added that, in northern Kosovo, any military-type equipment found outside institutional control should be treated as a national security problem and not merely as a police matter.

Shala also warned that such events could affect how citizens in the north perceive security. To prevent speculation and maintain public trust in security institutions, he considers a full investigation and transparency from the institutions essential.