The Basic Court of Prishtina rejected the Special Prosecution’s request for detention and ordered the release of three Albanian nationals arrested after nearly 1 million was found hidden inside a van at the Merdare border crossing, ruling that prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify pre-trial detention.

The money was found on February 24, 2026, at the Merdare crossing point by officers from Kosovo Customs and border police. 

According to authorities, X-ray scanning equipment detected suspicious materials inside the vehicle, which led to the discovery of cash hidden in an improvised compartment.

The suspects—Aurel Kaziu, identified as a member of the Albanian State Police, along with Ardit Laska and Edmir Ahmagjokaj—were detained that day. All three are citizens of Albania.

On February 25, the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo, SPRK, requested pre-trial detention, arguing that the money may have been obtained through criminal activity. 

A court hearing was held on February 26, and a decision was issued a day later.

In its ruling, the court found that the prosecution failed to establish a “well-grounded suspicion” that the suspects had committed a criminal offense.

The decision states that the prosecution did not provide, in the one short sentence included, sufficient appropriate evidence to substantiate the claim.

The court noted that key documents, including “a vehicle search report and formal confirmation of the confiscation of the money,” were absent. These would support the claims against the suspects.

It found no evidence was presented which indicates that the suspects had knowledge of or intent regarding the hidden cash.

“The statements the suspects gave before customs investigators were attached, in which they fully deny the criminal offense and deny having had any knowledge of the money found in their vehicle. Several photographs of the cash in plastic bags have also been attached, but without any detailed list of the banknotes’ serial numbers,” the Court’s decision states.

The court file further states that the Prosecution did not refer to these pieces of evidence at all when submitting the request for pre-trial detention.

“However, the Court assessed them and concluded that they cannot serve as a basis to support a well-grounded suspicion”.

According to the Court, the Prosecution’s request is not supported by any evidence that substantiates a well-grounded suspicion.

“If the state prosecutor, in the request for pre-trial detention, fails to establish a well-grounded suspicion that the arrested person has committed the alleged criminal offense, the pre-trial judge shall release the defendant.”

“Thus, this legal provision does not allow for any alternative, not even the imposition of a lighter measure- but decisively requires the release of the defendant,” the decision states.

The decision was issued by Judge Leon Përlaska.

According to KALLXO.com‘s sources, the prosecution has appealed the ruling.

During the hearing, the three defendants’ defence lawyers argued that the prosecution had failed to properly assess the evidence and had not met the legal criteria required for detention.