Three arrested in Tropoja and Kukes operations over weapons, drug cultivation and theft

Three people were put in handcuffs on Monday, following three separate operations conducted in Tropoja and Kukes, on charges of cultivating narcotic plants, illegal weapons possession and theft.

According to police reports, E. M., 45, was arrested after an automatic firearm and combat ammunition were found at his home.

Also arrested was S. H., 38, charged with “Cultivation of narcotic plants” and “Unlicensed possession of weapons.”

Meanwhile, the third arrestee is I. J., 31, charged with “Theft,” who allegedly broke into and stole a car and a business premises.

Full police statement:

In the framework of work to prevent, detect and combat unlicensed weapons possession, solve thefts and hold perpetrators legally accountable, as well as to prevent and combat the cultivation of narcotic plants, the services of the Tropoja Police Commissariat, in cooperation with the structures of the Kukes Local Police Directorate, arrested citizen E. M., 45, a resident of Markaj, Tropoja, as part of operation “Befasia” (Surprise).

Acting on a court order, during a home search, police services found and seized, as material evidence, an automatic firearm and combat ammunition.

Also in Tropoja, as part of the police operation codenamed “Weekend,” citizen S. H., 38, was arrested in flagrante delicto for “Cultivation of narcotic plants,” “Unlicensed production and possession of weapons and ammunition” and “Unlicensed production and possession of cold weapons.”

Based on operationally obtained information, police services searched a wooded area in the territory of the Tropoja e Vjeter Administrative Unit, where narcotic plants were suspected of being cultivated.

At the moment of the intervention, police services found citizen S. H., 38, about 50 meters from a plot where 42 cannabis plants had been cultivated. The investigation indicates these plants were allegedly cultivated by this citizen.

During a body search, a pistol with a magazine and 9 rounds was found on S. H. and seized, while a hunting rifle, ammunition and a cold weapon (knife) were found at his home.

Meanwhile, the services of the Kukes Police Commissariat, as a result of swift investigative actions, solved and documented with legal evidence two cases of burglary – of a vehicle and a business premises. As part of operation “Hija” (Shadow), in cooperation with the services of the Durres Local Police Directorate, citizen I. J., 31, a resident of Kruma, Has, was apprehended.

In the early morning hours of September 26, 2026, this citizen allegedly burglarized a vehicle owned by citizen R. B., and broke into and stole from a business premises owned by citizen G. M. The stolen vehicle, a mobile phone stolen from the premises and a cold weapon (knife) were seized as material evidence.

Crime Investigation Specialists at the Kukes Police Commissariat, in cooperation with the Has Police Commissariat and the Durres Police Commissariat, are continuing work to solve and document several other thefts allegedly committed by this citizen in Has and Durres.

The case materials were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Kukes Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction for further action.