In six separate cases, Kosovo Police on April 16 conducted raids in northern Kosovo, inhabited by a Serb majority, where they seized various types of weapons and ammunition.

Police announced that the raids were carried out following information received from citizens in the villages of Banovë and Prevlak in Zubin Potok.

According to the announcement, in the first raid on an uninhabited house, four rifles of various types, three radios, a camera and 223 different cartridges, military uniforms and equipment for cleaning weapons were found.

In the second case, during a search of a house, authorities found an unlicensed rifle and 3 cartridges, REL reports.

"The person MR [1972] was encountered at this location and was escorted to the police station where he was interviewed and after the interview by order of the State Prosecutor, he was released, while he will be investigated for the panel offense of 'unlicensed possession of weapons'," the announcement said.

The next raid was conducted in another uninhabited house where an AK-47 rifle, 3 magazines, 88 cartridges for long guns and an M75 hand grenade, of Yugoslav manufacture, were found.

"Explosive ordnance disposal units also arrived at the scene and removed the explosive device in a controlled manner," police said regarding the case.

In another uninhabited house, officers found an AK-47 and 19 rounds of ammunition. Also, in a separate incident, an M48 rifle, a hunting rifle and 33 rounds of ammunition were reportedly found in an uninhabited house.

Meanwhile, in a barn, the police found an M-48 long gun mechanism, a bayonet and military uniforms.

For all six cases, the State Prosecutor has instructed the initiation of cases for the criminal offense: "unauthorized ownership, control or possession of weapons".

Meanwhile, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, said that the evidence found proves that there are attempts to violate the security of Kosovo.

"The evidence obtained during this operation demonstrates ongoing efforts for illegal activities with the potential to undermine security and stability in the country," Sveçla wrote on Facebook, where he published a video of the seized weapons.

He added that any action that endangers order, law and security will be dealt with without any compromise.

Even in the past, especially since the September 2023 armed attack in Zveçan, authorities have seized weapons and ammunition in the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, inhabited by a Serb majority.

In November last year, when detonators were found in Leposavic, Svečla accused Serbia of continuing to plan "terrorist attacks in Kosovo" "through criminal and terrorist gangs."

Kosovo blames Belgrade for the attack in Banjska, Zvecan, where a group of armed Serbs killed a Kosovo policeman. But Serbia denies any involvement.

Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by Milan Radoicic, former vice-president of the Serbian List – the main Serb party in Kosovo – whom Pristina is demanding that Belgrade extradite to Kosovo.

An indictment has been filed against him and 44 other people by the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office, as the trial against the three defendants in this case is nearing its end./ REL