Kosovo police shut down venues and arrest dozens in anti‑trafficking raid

From 8‑12 June 2026 Kosovo police carried out a large‑scale operation against suspected human‑trafficking and prostitution, coordinated with Europol, Interpol and FRONTEX. Inspectors examined 59 live‑music venues and 62 massage centres across the country, identifying 420 people in the venues and 104 in the massage centres, many of whom were foreign nationals.

Administrative action led to the closure of nine live‑music venues and ten massage centres. Police arrested 15 people in total, including eight individuals charged with prostitution‑related offences and seven women suspected of child‑neglect or abandonment. No cases of actual human‑trafficking were confirmed during the raids.

The operation also involved the inspection of streets, markets and other public spaces, and all workers encountered were offered the chance to report any exploitation, though none did so.