On the morning of September 27, under the direction of the Peja Prosecutor’s Office, the Kosovo Police conducted a large-scale operation targeting a drug production facility in the mountainous regions of Peja.  

The remote, forested location had been home to a sophisticated drug operation, where the suspected group had created a living place away from the local population.

A BIRN team was present during the operation, which was labelled “Vera 2024” (in English, “Summer 2024”). The police uncovered a substantial marijuana plantation, seized over 1 ton of narcotics and more than 2,800 cannabis plants ready for harvest, and arrested one individual from neighbouring Albania. 

The Peja region is already notorious for its involvement in cross-border criminal activities, particularly with criminal networks from Albania. It made headlines in 2014 during one of the largest cocaine busts in Kosovo’s history. This latest operation adds to the area’s growing reputation as a hotspot for drug trafficking.

One suspect from Albania was arrested during the raid while he was sleeping at the scene. Six other suspects, also believed to be from Albania, managed to evade capture. 

Deputy Prosecutor Ersan Qavolli of the Peja Prosecutor’s Office told Kallxo Përnime programme that the group is “highly organised.” 

“They set up two large-scale drug plantations, complete with an irrigation system and facilities for drying the marijuana,” Qavolli noted, underscoring the group’s sophistication.

Qavolli confirmed that despite only arresting one person, the other suspects left behind ‘crucial evidence,’ including mobile phones and documents, which will aid authorities in tracking them down.

He said that the suspects “managed to flee the scene using routes through the forest that we were unaware of. Only they knew these pathways. We have strong evidence that all individuals involved are Albanian citizens and that they never left this area during the operation.”

“We are confident there was no intelligence leak, as we found half-drunk coffee cups left behind. However, their familiarity with the terrain has helped them evade capture,” Qavolli claimed.

The raid took place in two plantations, one used for drug harvesting and the other for drying.

The arrested suspect, who had been “living in the forest” since the beginning of September revealed that he “was promised 5,000 euros [in payment], but had only received 1,500 euros” at the time of his arrest.

Over 100 police officers, including special units and drug enforcement investigators, were involved in the Vera 2024 operation. 

The high-risk nature of the operation prompted the involvement of specialised unit forces to ensure safety during the raid.

As the police combed through the dense woodland, they uncovered makeshift camps where the suspects had been living. These camps were not only home to the illegal plants but were also equipped with rudimentary sleeping quarters and a water supply system. 

According to Qavolli, “the suspects had been living there undetected for weeks” because the area was entirely self-sufficient and closed off, where workers lived, ate, and slept, rarely leaving “to avoid detection by locals or authorities”.

Alongside the drugs, additional evidence, including electronic devices and personal documents, was gathered during the raid, providing leads for investigators to track the remaining suspects.

On September 28, the Peja Basic Court ordered a one-month detention measure against the arrested individual as investigations continue. 

Prosecutors asked for detention fearing the suspect may attempt to flee, especially considering he does not have a permanent residence in Kosovo.

Prosecutor Qavolli has explained that “the crime is punishable by a fine and imprisonment ranging from 3 to 15 years.” 

According to sources within the Peja Prosecutor’s Office, the operation was set in motion weeks ago following a tip-off. Intelligence reports suggested that a significant drug plantation was operating in the mountains of Peja. 

Per state prosecutor guidelines, once samples had been collected for evidence, authorities destroyed the remaining plants at the scene. The processed marijuana, however, was seized and is now part of the ongoing investigation.

The Kosovo Police issued a warrant for three Albanian citizens on October 4 for suspected involvement in the cultivation of drugs in these plantations.

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