Arms Dealing Suspect's Kosovo Embassy Ties Pose 'Flight Risk'

The US authorities have denied bail to Albert Veliu, the official driver at Kosovo's New York consulate, because he might be able to secure a new passport and diplomatic status if he was released from detention, BIRN has learned.

Veliu, an employee of Kosovo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is accused by the Department of Justice of being a weapons runner, drug dealer and money launderer, while maintaining ties to the Cosa Nostra criminal organisation and to Albanian organised crime figures in New York and the Czech Republic.

In a written statement obtained by BIRN, attorney Bridget Rohde argued Veliu should not be given bail as he presented a "danger to the community" and posed a "risk of flight".  Judge Steven Gold agreed, and remanded Veliu in custody.

Rohde wrote that Veliu had bragged on numerous occasions to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, agent that he could transport "contraband through airports because of his employment with the consulate".

The attorney added: "It is worrisome to the government that Veliu's ties to the Kosovar consulate would enable him to receive replacement travel documents and diplomatic credentials."

A written statement from the Kosovo embassy in Washington DC, which is responsible for the New York consulate, said Veliu had been a driver since 2010 but was sacked with "immediate effect" after his arrest.

"The Consulate General will fully cooperate with the US authorities, as the Kosovo Police did with regard to this case," the statement said.

"Prior to his employment with the Consulate General he has brought evidence that [he] had no criminal record," it added.

"Mr Veliu was not a Kosovo diplomat and he was not in possession of a Diplomatic...