Trial of suspected Albanian crime boss begins

Trial of suspected Albanian crime boss begins

PRIŠTINA -- A panel of judges at the Basic Court in Priština has begun the trial of Naser Kelmendi, charged by the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office.

Kelmendi stands accused of committing crimes related to international drug trafficking and the murder of Ramiz Delilalić, a Bosnia-Herzegovina citizen.

Earlier this month, the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office filed an indictment against Kelmendi over several criminal offenses, including involvement in organized crime and managing organized crime groups.

Kelmendi is charged with an aggravated murder of Delalić in Sarajevo in 2007 and for purchase, possession, sale or manufacture of dangerous drugs and psychotherapeutic substances, including amounts of at least 100 kilograms of heroin and 150,000 ecstasy pills.

On May 6, 2013, Kelmendi was arrested by the Kosovo police on an international warrant issued by the Bosniak authorities in Sarajevo and has since been held in custody in Kosovo.

Keljmendi is featured on Interpol’s list of wanted criminals, where he is labeled as one of the most dangerous drug dealers in the Balkans, and has also been added to the United States' "black list" of foreign criminals. Bosnia accuses him of organizing the 2007 Sarajevo murder of Delalić.