Kosovo pushes munitions factory plan as police seize illegal meds

The Kosovo government is advancing a project to build the country's first ammunition factory in the industrial zone of Jahoc, Gjilan. The plant, to be constructed with Turkish state-owned defence firm MKE, aims to start production by the end of 2026 with a capacity of about 20 million rounds per year, initially producing NATO‑standard 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm cartridges. Officials say the facility will enhance military self‑sufficiency, create hundreds of jobs, integrate Kosovo’s armed forces with NATO standards and could later allow exports of ammunition.

Separately, Kosovo’s Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, together with the Economic Crime Police Unit, raided the Nigella Pharmacy in Graçanicë, owned by pharmacist Samir Toro. Inspectors uncovered large quantities of unlabelled medicines and products bearing the flags of Macedonia, Albania and Serbia hidden in modified cabinets. The illegal items were seized and placed on confiscation lists, prompting a criminal investigation into unauthorised drug circulation and potential threats to public health.