Pristina, Aprill 27 - Today, 27 April 2016, a search and arrest operation took place in an ongoing SPRK criminal investigation, executing orders made by the pre-trial judge of the Basic Court of Pristina on 26 April 2016. The operation was carried out jointly between EULEX Police and Kosovo Police. Approximately 350 police officers searched around 42 locations associated with 40 suspects in the ongoing criminal investigation. Six (6) individuals were arrested during the operation and they will appear before the Basic Court of Pristina later today.

The investigation relates to a large scale organised criminal group, active from 2006 to date, composed of Kosovo and Serbian citizens, and headed by Azem Syla. Members of the organised criminal group cooperated together, each with a specific role, to deprive Kosovo of socially owned properties worth an estimated €30 million, through criminal activities including the falsification of official documents and paying bribes to public officials. The injured parties are the state budget of Kosovo and Kosovo Serb families whose entitlement to land parcels was misused by the organised criminal group.

A substantial portion of the land parcels involved were temporarily sequestrated upon the order of the pre-trial judge of the Basic Court of Pristina on 26 April 2016. This process is intended to restore the land to its legitimate public ownership, in the first instance.

The case involves the criminal offences of organised crime; money laundering; abuse of official position; falsifying official documents and giving and receiving bribes.

Several defendants in the investigation are Serbian citizens, residing in Serbia. The investigation has included an effective cooperation with the High Office of the Prosecutor for Organised Crime in Belgrade. 

Orders for arrest as regards some defendants were not executed, since these defendants are fugitive or are abroad.

The leader of the group, Azem Syla, Member of Parliament, is at large at this time. Despite consistent efforts by Kosovo Police over the last ten days to locate Azem Syla, he could not be found and has fled the administration.