This Monday at the Qafë-Thane border crossing point, over 90 members of the "2003" Homing Pigeon Association held a protest, following the order given by the head of the KOKSH, prohibiting the departure of racing pigeons outside Albanian territory.

According to the competition director, Kujtim Beqja, the customs authorities have not presented any official document to justify the obstacle to the association.
He claims that the situation was created to exert pressure on members, with the aim of registering them in another organization linked to KOKSH leaders.
On the other hand, the vice president of the association, Arben Piroli, stated that their activity is non-profitable and that each member invests large sums in breeding and preparing pigeons for competitions.

He added that the blockade at the border has caused them considerable damage. The legal representative of the association, Hysen Rama, also reacted to the situation by emphasizing that the customs intervention, based on the request of the KOKSH, is outside the legal competences. According to him, the customs institutions should be limited only to the verification of veterinary documentation and technical procedures.
After about an hour of debate and gridlock at the Qafë-Thana border crossing, authorities allowed the passage of a vehicle transporting 3800 racing pigeons, which will compete on the route from Belgrade to Albania.