Ministry of Interior reveals police operation in Skopje: Three detained, weapons and ISIS flag seized

A joint police operation was carried out yesterday in Skopje by the Department for the Suppression of Organized and Serious Crime, the National Security Agency, the Department of Special Police Operations and the Skopje Internal Affairs Sector, under the direction of the competent public prosecutor.

By order of the preliminary proceedings judge, teams searched six people at 12 different locations across Skopje. During the operation, automatic rifles, a sniper rifle, pistols, ammunition, a tactical vest, radio communication equipment, a large number of electronic devices and mobile phones, as well as money in denars and foreign currency, were seized. Among the items found was also a flag of the terrorist organization ISIS.

According to the Ministry of Interior, 34-year-old K.I. has been part of a criminal organization with an ideology linked to ISIS since 2023.

The authorities said that K.I. indoctrinated young people, distributed propaganda materials containing extremist and radical content, and procured and handled firearms.

B.A., 24, and E.S., 30, are suspected of having formed a group together with K.I. that dealt with the possession, brokering and illegal sale and purchase of firearms and ammunition.

On September 29, the Sector for Combating Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Radicalism filed a criminal complaint against all three individuals with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption.

K.I. is charged with the criminal offenses of “terrorism” and “unauthorized production, possession, brokering and trafficking of weapons or explosives.” B.A. and E.S. are charged with an offense related to the unauthorized production, possession, brokering and trafficking of weapons or explosives.

The searches also established unauthorized use of electricity. The Ministry of Interior said that further measures and activities are being undertaken in connection with the case.