Drug trafficking from Syria/ The appeal of the Criminal Court of Kosovo upholds the sentences of 13 defendants

2025-07-22 19:37:00, Aktualitet CNA

Drug trafficking from Syria/ The appeal of the Criminal Court of Kosovo upholds

The appeal of the GJKKO has today decided to uphold the sentences against 13 citizens accused of drug trafficking.

Based on investigations conducted by the Special Prosecution Office, it emerged that the 13 citizens were part of a criminal group, accused of drug trafficking from Syria and Turkey to Albania and then to the EU.

Decision of the Criminal Court:

The Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, with a panel composed of judges Igerta Hysi (presiding), Nertina Kosova (member) and Tereza Merkaj (member), on 22.07.2025, announced the decision regarding the case registered with no. 31 act, date 08.04.2025 registration, on the appeal filed by the Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, the appeals filed by the defendants SP, AT, FC, VL, AA, Sh.P., J.Ç., BR, P.Ç., JM, EK, SS and AS, against decision no. 72, date 05.12.2024 of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, and decided:

1. Upholding decision no. 72, dated 05.12.2024 of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime for the defendants SP, AT, FC, VL, AA, Sh.P., J.Ç., BR, P.Ç., JM, EK, SS, AS

2. Amending decision no. 72, dated 05.12.2024 of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime for the defendant KR, in the following manner:

– The guilty plea of the defendant KR for committing the criminal offense of “Drug Trafficking”, attempted, committed in collaboration with a special form of a structured criminal group (for episode no. 4), provided for by articles 283/a/1 –22- 28/4 of the Criminal Code, and in connection with article 334/1 of the Criminal Code, his sentence to 12 (twelve) years of imprisonment.

– The guilty plea of the defendant KR for committing the criminal offense of "Structured criminal group", in the form of participation, as provided for by Article 333/a/2 of the Criminal Code, and based on this provision his sentence to 2 (two) years of imprisonment.

– Pursuant to Article 55 of the Criminal Code, in conjunction with the sentences, the sentence of the defendant KR to 12 (twelve) years of imprisonment.

– In application of Article 406/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the above sentence is reduced by 1/3, with the defendant KR finally being sentenced to a single sentence of 8 (eight) years of imprisonment.

– The sentence for the defendant KR will begin to be served from the day of execution of this decision, including the duration of pre-trial detention, and will be served in a high-security prison.

3. The court costs, including those of the appeal trial, shall be borne jointly by the defendants.

4. The decision may be appealed to the Supreme Court within 45 (forty-five) days, starting from the day after its notification./CNA