Police action, 16 Serbs arrested, four of them active security officers – Sveçla provides details

Acting Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, revealed on Saturday details of a large-scale operation carried out by Kosovo security forces, where on April 5 and 6, 2025, a total of 16 people were detained, who were traveling in four cars with license plates from the city of Kragujevac, Serbia.

"During this joint operation, 16 people were detained, divided into four groups, of whom four are active officers of the Serbian security services," Svečla said, adding that their actions are related to intelligence activities and attempts at destabilization.

According to him, preliminary data suggests that these groups aimed to collect information about possible targets in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.

He stressed that there is evidence proving their connection with “Serbian military intelligence structures and with members of the terrorist group that carried out the attack in Banjska.”

The first group was stopped in Gjakova and consisted of four people. During the search of the vehicle, according to Sveçla, the following were found: "a photograph with a map of the Republic of Kosovo, photographs of terrorists killed during the attack in Banjska, two knives, an axe and a rotating light."

He announced that by decision of the prosecutor, they have been detained for 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the second group, consisting of 12 people, was detained in Prizren, where they were sheltering in the premises of the Bogoslavia Orthodox Seminary.

"There were also two other active Serbian intelligence officers in this group," the minister explained.

Investigations to date have revealed direct links between some of the detainees and individuals involved in terrorist activities.

Read too "Two knives and an axe" - Police provide details about Serbs arrested in Gjakova

A Serbian police officer with the rank of lieutenant, according to the minister, is a relative of Nemanja Radivojevic, known as "Gandhi", one of the members of the Banjska terrorist group.

Gandi is also linked to Vladimir Radivojevic, "Mami", the main suspect in the murder of Kosovo Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku.

"Another detainee, with the rank of captain first class, is linked to former Serbian intelligence general Jovan Milanovic, known for his involvement in leaking NATO data before the 1999 bombings," Svečla announced.

He described as worrying the fact that part of the group had been sheltered in a religious institution.

"Using such environments for covert purposes and to spread interethnic tensions is an extremely dangerous practice," he stressed, adding that the authorities will be ruthless against any such attempts.

Finally, Minister Sveçla called on citizens to cooperate with security institutions.

"We invite all citizens to report any suspicious activity. Only through mutual cooperation will we be able to guarantee security and order in our country," he concluded.

Investigations are continuing and authorities have promised full transparency on further developments. /Telegraph/