Authorities in Kosovo have seized real estate, cash and a vehicle as part of an international investigation into large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, following cooperation between Kosovo and Swedish law enforcement agencies.
The Office of the Chief State Prosecutor confirmed that cooperation between Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office and Swedish authorities resulted in the arrest of an individual identified by the initials A.G. and the seizure of assets suspected of having been acquired through criminal activities.
According to the authorities, the case has already reached a judicial conclusion in Sweden and marks the first time Swedish authorities have successfully secured the confiscation of assets located outside the country’s territory.
The Asset Recovery Office, operating under the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, will continue working with Swedish authorities to ensure the full implementation of the confiscation decision concerning the assets located in Kosovo.
According to a statement from Swedish authorities, A.G. was arrested in the Gothenburg region on suspicion of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking and aggravated money laundering.
Searches and inspections were conducted in both countries during the operation. In Kosovo, authorities seized real estate, cash and a vehicle, while in Sweden they secured valuables and digital materials to support further investigations and the examination of financial transactions.
Swedish state prosecutor Daniel Larson, from the Swedish Economic Crime Authority, praised the cooperation with Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office, describing it as essential to the successful seizure of the assets.
“Cooperation with the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo has been characterised by a high level of professionalism and a strong willingness to cooperate, which was a prerequisite for the seizure of real estate, cash and a vehicle in this case,” Larson said.
He also noted that Swedish authorities are implementing new legislation that allows criminal assets to be confiscated even when they are located outside Sweden.
Swedish police said the operation was aimed at tackling organised crime and confiscating proceeds generated through criminal activities, regardless of where those assets are held.
“Crime must not pay, and it makes no difference if someone tries to hide the proceeds of criminal activities abroad. We will find them, and our objective is to confiscate them,” said Tomas Stakeberg Jansson, head of the Western Region of the Swedish Police.
The investigation is being led by state prosecutors Daniel Larson of the Swedish Economic Crime Authority and Håkan Larsson of the National Unit Against International and Organised Crime (RIO) within the Swedish Prosecution Authority.
