Authorities seized about 50kg of gold worth €5m during raids on jewellery shops and homes in Peja, where officers uncovered secret compartments hidden behind cabinets and inside armoured safes, along with unstamped gold on display in jewelry stores.
A coordinated raid undertaken in four locations on February 13 uncovered 30 kilograms of gold hidden in secret compartments behind cabinets and inside safes. While, another 20 kilograms displayed in jewelry shops was seized for examination because it lacked the official stamps required by law.
In total, around 50 kilograms of gold, worth approximately 5 million euros, were found during the operation targeting two jewelry businesses and the homes of their owners.
Exclusive footage documenting the operation carried out by Kosovo’s police, tax administration, trade inspectors, and the Peja prosecution was broadcast on the “Kallxo Përnime” TV Programme on March 1, 2026.
According to the Peja Prosecution, 30 kilograms of gold were found hidden in secret compartments built inside the business premises and the owners’ houses. Because the gold had been concealed and not declared to customs authorities, it was immediately confiscated as contraband.
Another 20 kilograms of gold exposed in shops were discovered without official markings or stamps, which are required by law in Kosovo to certify the quality and origin of precious metals before they can be sold.
This portion will undergo examination to determine its quality and value.
During the operation, officers also found an unlicensed firearm, luxury watches, and around 10,000 euros in cash in different currencies.
Peja Chief Prosecutor Lumturije Vucetaj said during a press conference that the investigation concerns two criminal offenses: smuggling of goods and fraud against consumers.
“Approximately 20 kilograms of gold that were found without markings will undergo examination to determine their quality and origin. Meanwhile, the 30 kilograms that were discovered hidden are automatically confiscated,” Vucetaj said.
“Three owners of the two businesses are currently under investigation, while authorities are still working to identify other individuals suspected of involvement,” she further added.
Six-month investigation
Authorities inspection at jewelry shops in Peja on February 13, 2026. Photo: BIRN
The operation followed a six-month investigation into several jewelers in Peja suspected of operating outside legal regulations.
According to intelligence gathered by police and prosecutors, lower-quality gold was allegedly smuggled into Kosovo, processed locally, and then sold to consumers as high-quality jewelry.
“Citiezens also came with complaints about the jewelry they had bought at those shops,” Vucetaj added.
Investigators also suspected that the businesses imported gold without declaring it to Kosovo Customs, avoiding both customs duties and value-added tax.
Kosovo does not produce gold domestically, meaning that hundreds of kilograms of gold are imported into the country each year.
Under the law, all imports must be declared and taxed. Additionally, gold products must be officially stamped by the relevant metrology authorities before being placed on the market.
During inspections inside the jewelry shops, authorities initially verified the visible stock and financial records, to determine if the amount of product exposed matches with what is declared.
Before the search was initiated by the inspectors, the owners were asked if they were in possession of illegal materials or if they had broken the law. They claimed their businesses were operating legally and that all merchandise was properly documented.
However, based on intelligence data, a detailed search by customs officers revealed hidden compartmentsbunkers behind locked cabinets.
Using specialised equipment and physically opening concealed sections of furniture, officers uncovered undeclared gold and silver jewelry stored in secret compartments.
Similar hidden depots were discovered at the second shop as well.
In one shop, investigators found a secret compartment inside an armored safe, where additional undeclared gold was being stored.
Searches were also carried out at the owners’ homes as information indicated there was gold hidden at those premises as well. In one residence, officers discovered another armored safe with concealed spaces, where they found both gold and cash.
Lumturije Vucetaj noted that, “the operation involved 21 market inspectors, three prosecutors, customs investigators, officials from the Tax Administration, and the Economic Crimes Investigation Unit.”