Illegal possession of weapons, over 1,000 weapons seized in the last two years alone

Blerim Muja, 24 years old from Kukës, was arrested on Sunday in Tirana, after a pistol was found on him that he was suspected of selling. The young man was stopped during a routine check on “Elbasan Street”, while he was in the company of a friend, and after a physical check, the firearm was found on him. According to the Criminal Code, the 24-year-old risks a sentence of up to 7 years in prison, for the charge of illegal possession of a weapon.

The phenomenon of illegal possession of weapons has been one of the main problems, especially when police statistics show that the highest number of people who have carried them are mainly young people. According to data, over the last two years, over 1,300 cases have been discovered throughout the country in which people of different ages have been caught with weapons without a permit in public places, while driving a vehicle or walking on the street.

Last year alone, data shows that around 700 weapons were identified, and their owners were arrested. A good portion of them are repeat offenders.

Last year, the police also cracked down on several cases of arms trafficking, mainly from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The most sensational operation was the one conducted on December 12, 2024 between the police of Tirana and Kosovo. During the action of the two countries, 14 people were arrested, half of them in Tirana, who were trafficking arms from Kosovo and European Union countries to our country, mainly by buses. (A2 Televizion)