Seventeen people have been arrested and nearly 2 million euros worth of heavy machinery seized in a major raid on illegal gravel extraction in Prizren on Wednesday, following a months-long investigation by Kosovo authorities into large-scale environmental crimes.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Chief Prosecutor of Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu, revealed that those arrested have been operating unlawfully since 2016, violating mining and mineral laws, as none of the companies involved held valid licenses for gravel or sand extraction in the Prizren region.

“These individuals have committed the criminal offence of environmental degradation and pollution. They have been operating without licenses for years,”  Kryeziu said, adding that by using special investigative measures footage of severe environmental damage caused by these operations was captured.

He explained that the illegal extractions created large craters in residential areas and pose a serious public safety risk—particularly in areas frequented by children—referencing past incidents when similar operations in the region resulted in loss of life.

“This is not just about environmental damage. The use of heavy machinery in these areas is considered reckless endangerment,” Kryeziu emphasised.

The operation targeted fourteen locations and involved the Kosovo Police special forces and serious crimes investigators.

According to Kryeziu, Wednesday’s raid was the result of over four months of investigative work initiated in February. 

“Authorities employed advanced surveillance techniques, including  day- and night-time recordings, as part of the investigation,” he explained.

During the raids, authorities seized 38 pieces of equipment used in the illegal operations: 9 trucks, 14 excavators, and 15 separation machines (used for sorting materials), all with an estimated value of 1.95 million euros.

 “The Prosecution is committed to ensuring that no one profits at the expense of public property and natural resources,” Kryeziu concluded.