UNMIK Police Briefing Notes
08 April, 2002

We are pleased to report that Kosovo has again enjoyed a stable and relatively calm week. No murders were recorded and there have been few ethnically motivated incidents.

1. SUCCESS AGAINST SMUGGLING

There has been significant success in countering the smuggling of fuel from Montenegro. Criminals have adopted the practice of concealing large fuel cans by strapping them to the underside of vehicles, filling them in Montenegro and driving into Kosovo to avoid customs duty. The amount of fuel is large and represents a loss to the Kosovo government of 400 Euros per ton in lost tax.

At the Kulina Pass last week 6 arrests and 5 seizures were made, amounting to almost 500 litres. Together with more intensive patrolling of the 'buffer' zone between the Montenegro border and UNMIK Customs checkpoint, smuggling has been greatly diminished.

2. ARRESTS MADE IN ARMED ROBBERY

On the 24th of March, two employees of a petrol station in Kamenica were confronted by two armed men who pointed a handgun at them and demanded cash. The victims handed over the contents of the cash register and the gunmen fled.

Within 24 hours, the Gnjilane Regional Investigations Unit had identified both criminals. A 26 year-old and a 19 year-old, both K-Albanian males, face charges of Armed Robbery.

3. SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

A K-Albanian man has been arrested in the January 11th attack on two brothers in Decani. The two victims were beaten by a gang, hit with sticks, and one was shot in the leg. The criminals fled, leaving the victims seriously injured.
Investigators identified a suspect, who was located and arrested on April 3rd. The 19 year-old K-Albanian man is charged with Aggravated Assault.

4. POLICE ARREST 3 FOR BURGLARY, RECOVER STOLEN GOODS

Police in Gjakova have arrested a three-man burglary gang and have recovered stolen property valued at 100,000 Euros.

Following a burglary of a house on the 4th of April, police identified the suspects and located a vehicle they were using. After a chase, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and ran off. Police then conducted successful searches of several houses in the area they were believed to be hiding.

All three K-Albanian men are now in custody. Jewellery and electronics valued at 100,000 Euro were recovered, along with a small amount of Marijuana.

5. POLICE ASSIST WITH HOUSING EVICTIONS

On the 4th of April, Housing Department officials conducted an operation in Vucitrn to remove people from illegally occupied houses.

Seven evictions were carried out. UNMIK Police and KPS officers were involved to provide security for the operation. There was no resistance and the evictions were successfully completed. We are ready to assist with further evictions in the future.

6. ILLEGAL WEAPONS

The weapons amnesty has one week left to run. Two cases this week highlight dangers posed by illegal weapons in private homes.

On the 3rd of April, in a village near Stimle, a land dispute involving 8 K-Albanian members of one family turned violent. Two cousins exchanged gunfire and both were seriously injured. Police have made one arrest and recovered an AK-47.

Yesterday, the 7th, a 52 year-old K-Albanian man died in Peja as a result of a trivial argument. The victim and another man were involved in a dispute when the suspect obtained an AK-47 from his room and used it to kill the victim.

How many more times do we have to deliver the message that weapons of war have no place in a civilised society.

END