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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

6 clusters · 56 sources · 23 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: CRIME

Balkans police crackdown on violent crime continues

Entities: Vërmicë border crossing · Special Operational Force · Tirana · Albanian capital Tirana · Tirana Police

Overview

Police operations across the Balkans have kept expanding. In Belgrade, the two 21‑year‑old men detained for the July 8 assault on a 16‑year‑old boy in Republic Square remain in pre‑trial custody; prosecutors highlighted their alleged involvement in earlier assaults on a Ukrainian citizen and another teenager in July 2025, arguing that release could endanger witnesses. In Kosovo, authorities made two separate family‑violence arrests on July 18. In Podujevë a man was detained after assaulting his son with a heavy object and attempting to jump from a second‑floor window. Later in Prishtinë four people were taken into custody following a domestic dispute that left a woman injured; a search of their homes uncovered a long‑barrel automatic rifle with a charger and 59 rounds, an air‑gun and a tactical anti‑lead projectile. Both cases are being investigated for illegal weapon possession and assault. In Albania, police in Fushë‑Krujë arrested a 52‑year‑old suspect during the coded “Porosia” anti‑terror operation. The special unit “Shqiponja”, together with the Special Forces and the Illegal Trafficking Investigation Section, seized 600 g of tritonal explosive (TNT), two hand‑grenades, two grenade‑launchers, two detonator fuses and six detonator capsules, concluding the man was attempting to sell the materials. In early August, Tirana police carried out vehicle checks on luxury cars, confiscating narcotics, metal batons and baseball bats and detaining several individuals for further investigation; administrative penalties were issued for traffic violations. At the Vërmicë border crossing, Kosovo customs stopped a vehicle and seized 157 undeclared pairs of sneakers, launching legal proceedings. On 1 August 2026, Albanian State Police, the Special Operational Force and the “Shqiponja” unit expanded road‑side checks to Tirana and the nearby towns of Fushë‑Krujë, Bubq and Nikël.

Timeline

  1. 4 days ago

    [CRIME] 13 sources
    Albanian police seize cocaine, weapon and luxury car in Tirana raids

    Albanian police raids in Tirana and nearby towns seized cocaine, a metal baton and a luxury car, arresting two suspects and issuing penalties after checking 87 vehicles and 118 people.

  2. 18 days ago

    [CRIME] 9 sources
    Albanian police seize 600 g of TNT and hand grenades in anti‑terror operation

    Albanian police arrested a 52‑year‑old suspect, seizing 600 g of TNT, hand‑grenades, grenade‑launchers and detonators in a “Porosia” anti‑terror operation in Fushë‑Krujë.

  3. 20 days ago

    [CRIME] 25 sources
    Two suspects detained after minor assault in Belgrade's Republic Square

    Two 21‑year‑olds, M. K. and V. S., were detained after violently assaulting a 16‑year‑old on Belgrade’s Republic Square on 8 July 2026, causing serious head injuries and facing charges of severe bodily harm.

  4. 20 days ago

    [CRIME] 17 sources
    Albanian journalist assaulted on road; series of crime incidents across Albania, Kosovo and neighboring states

    Journalist assaulted on Albanian road; multiple crimes reported across the Balkans, including arson in Pristina, border smuggling, drug arrests in Durrës, stabbings in Shkodër and Korçë, and illegal weapons in

  5. 22 days ago

    [CRIME] 11 sources
    Albanian Postal Officials Arrested Over 69 Million Lek Embezzlement

    Three officials of Posta Shqiptare’s Durrës branch were arrested for misappropriating 69 million lek intended for pensions and social aid, in a police operation targeting economic crime.

  6. 27 days ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Police arrests follow knife attack in Kosovo and violent clashes in Albania and North Macedonia

    Police in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia arrested suspects after a knife attack, street fights and the capture of a murder suspect linked to a criminal gang.

Sources

072info.com · 24-ore.com · abcnews.al · aktuale.mk · aktuelno.me · albeu.com · albinfo.ch · atvlive.tv · autonomija.info · balkanweb.com · bizniscg.me · corp.kinokuniya.co.jp · dan.co.me · danas.rs · depo.ba · dukagjini.com · ekonomiaonline.com · epokaere.com · espreso.co.rs · faktiditor.ch · ferizajpress.com · gazeta.mk · gazeta10.com · gijotina.com · hcvillars1908.ch · index.hr · infokosova.net · javanews.al · jutarnji.hr · kohajone.com · kurir.rs · lajmi.net · mondo.rs · nedeljnik.rs · nin.rs · opinion.al · orainfo.net · oslobodjenje.ba · portalanalitika.me · portalb.mk · radiobijelopolje.me · rtvslon.ba · telegrafi.com · tv21.tv · tvzonaplus.rs · uniejow.pl · valterportal.ba · ve.lt

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history