The Kosovo Police Inspectorate in cooperation with the Special Prosecution of Kosovo in the two operations "Point", on March 14 and April 8 have arrested 74 police officers, suspected of taking bribes and abuse of office.

Operation "Point" was preceded by an investigation of about a year on suspicion of involvement in illegal activities of a number of police officers, while it was also supported by the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Kosovo Customs and Kosovo Police

Operation "Point 1" was focused on border crossings in Qafë Prushë and Qafë Morinë, while operation "Point 2" on the border crossing Vërmicë.

Below

you can read a summary of the two operations

Operation "Point" puts in handcuffs 48 police officers and two customs officers suspected of abuse of office and taking bribes

On March 14, the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, by order of the Special Prosecution, carried out an operation codenamed "Pika" that had begun in the early morning hours in Gjakova and Prizren.

During the operation, 48 police officers and two customs officers were arrested on suspicion of abuse of office and bribery.

PIK months ago received information through operational channels regarding the suspicions of involvement in illegal activities of some police officers employed in the Regional Border Directorate "West" in Gjakova, respectively border crossings in Qafë Prushë and Qafë Morinë as well as two customs officials.

With the authorization of the Special Prosecution in the framework of this investigation by the PIK investigators are included the secret and technical measures of surveillance and investigation as well as the necessary measures to detect and preserve the traces and other evidence of criminal offenses and items which can serve as evidence which can be used in criminal proceedings.

Based on these successful investigative actions, PIK within the operation "Point" has arrested today 48 police officers (including two police lieutenants - commanders of border crossings in Qafë Prush and Qafë Morinë and five sergeants) and two customs officials, "all suspects for the criminal offenses of 'abuse of office or official authority', 'taking bribes'", the notice said.

From the implementation of investigative actions by PIK investigators there is a reasonable suspicion that the arrested in this case are involved hundreds of times over 400 times in criminal activities of the criminal offense of "taking bribes" and "abuse of official duty or authority" ”.

Operation "Point 2" puts in handcuffs 26 police officers suspected of abuse of office and taking bribes

The Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, by order of the Special Prosecution, carried out the operation codenamed "Point 2" on Friday, April 8, which started in the early morning hours in Prizren, respectively at the border crossing point in Vërmicë.

PIK investigators months ago received information through operational channels regarding the suspicions of involvement in illegal activities of some police officers employed in the Regional Border Directorate "West" in Gjakova, respectively the border crossing point in Vermica.

Based on these successful investigative actions, PIK within the operation "Point 2" has arrested today 26 police officers (including two police sergeants and 24 police officers), all suspected of criminal offenses "abuse of official duty or authority" "Taking bribes."

From the implementation of investigative actions by PIK investigators there is a reasonable suspicion that the arrested in this case are involved in criminal activities of the criminal offense of "taking bribes" and "abuse of official duty or authority."

As part of the administrative procedures, the PIK also provided the recommendation for suspension from work duties for the already arrested officials.

The investigation has also included the cooperation with SPAK (Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime of the Republic of Albania) Police Oversight Agency - AMP (counterpart agency of PIK in Albania) which has resulted in the arrest of several suspects in the Republic of Albania.

PIK investigators will continue to undertake other investigative actions in this case in coordination with the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo.

Otherwise, the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) in Albania has announced the arrest of 17 Albanian police officers at the Morina border crossing after a joint police action conducted with the Kosovo authorities, in connection with the corruption of exercised at customs.

/ Telegraphy /