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They belonged to an international drug trafficking network/ Kosovo seizes assets worth 1 million euros

2026-07-06 12:46:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

They belonged to an international drug trafficking network/ Kosovo seizes assets

Kosovo authorities announced that on June 30 they conducted an operation, in cooperation with international agencies, seizing assets worth 1 million euros.

The Kosovo Special Prosecution Office said the operation was carried out as part of an investigation into transnational money laundering from drug trafficking. It involved Italian and French authorities, coordinated by Europol and Eurojust.

The Special Prosecution Office said that based on the analysis of material seized by Italian authorities, it was possible to identify bank accounts, business interests, real estate and high-value vehicles owned by a married couple, citizens of Kosovo, residing in Italy.

"The couple, who are under criminal investigation in Italy on suspicion of money laundering, were arrested in France in September 2025. Police had discovered more than 56 kilograms of gold bars and 2.5 million euros hidden inside the modified compartments of the two vehicles," the statement said.

The announcement stated that in September last year, other proceeds from criminal activities worth over 30 million euros were seized.

"These assets were linked to a transnational criminal network engaged in laundering proceeds generated from drug trafficking in France by individuals associated with criminal groups in France," the joint statement issued by the Special Prosecution Office and the Kosovo Police said.

According to authorities, the conversion of cash into gold served a dual purpose: concealing the illicit origin of criminal proceeds and facilitating their cross-border concealment and transportation, particularly in Kosovo, Turkey and Morocco.

In September 2025, Italian and French authorities announced that they had dismantled a network led by Syrians who were said to be laundering money from drug trafficking in Italy and France, converting the cash into gold bars.

The gold was then transported to Kosovo, North Macedonia, Turkey and Morocco.

At the time, Italy arrested five people and seized 17 million euros, while French authorities had also made arrests.

According to Italian prosecutors, over more than six months, the suspects collected more than 17 million euros in drug proceeds, mainly in France, and transported the money in vehicles to an area near Piedmont in Italy, which borders France.

"There, in collaboration with three precious metal smelting businesses in Piedmont and Lombardy, the money was converted into gold bars and sheets of the same monetary value," Italian prosecutors said in a statement on September 23, 2025. /REL





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