27 January 2012

On 24 January 2012 a EULEX judge at the District Court of Pejë/Peć confirmed the indictment against nine defendants in relation to the alleged smuggling of migrants, and declared all evidence obtained during the investigation as admissible.

B.N., N.B., B.B., A.B., A.B., M.B., S.B., A.P. and Z.Z. have been charged by a local prosecutor from the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office (SPRK) on two counts:

1. Organised Crime – contrary to article 274 paragraph 2 in conjunction with article 23 of Criminal Code of Kosovo (CCK)

2. Smuggling of Migrants – contrary to article 138, paragraph 6 in conjunction with article 23 of CCK

The judge found that there is a well-grounded suspicion that the defendants, working together as a structured organised group, had been involved in the smuggling of migrants from Kosovo to various European countries. The persons who wanted to leave Kosovo allegedly had to pay from 1500 to 3000 euros in order to enter European countries illegally with a false passport.

The investigation, prosecution and adjudication of organised crimes cases in Kosovo are part of the EULEX executive mandate.