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Crime in Kosovo is starting to resemble western European countries. High unemployment and other economic factors encourage criminal activity in Kosovo. Kosovo is rated as HIGH for residential and non-residential crime. Street crimes consisting of theft and purse snatchings are serious problems in Kosovo, especially in Pristina.

Crime dynamics
The number of reported murders rose 80% from 136 in 2000 to 245 in 2001. The number of reported arsons rose 140% from 218 to 523 over the same period. Although the number of noted serious crimes increased between 1999 and 2000, since then it has been "starting to resemble the same patterns of other European cities".

Murder rates in the Balkans are comparable to those of Western Europe. Since 2000 the homicide rate in Kosovo has dropped for 75%. The ratio of murders in 2000 was 11.8 to 100,000 persons, dropping to 2.9 by 2005.the murder rate is about the same as in Sweden and there are more police officers per capita in Kosovo than in Singapore. By comparison, Northern Ireland has 960 percent more violent crime than Kosovo. UNMIK pointed out that the rise in reported incidents might simply correspond to an increased confidence in the police force (i.e., more reports) rather than more actual crime. According to the UNODC, by 2008, murder rates in Kosovo had dropped by 75% in five years.

Residual landmines and other unexploded ordnance remain in Kosovo, although all roads and tracks have been cleared. Caution when travelling in remote areas is advisable.

Organized crime
Even though stabilization started later, in Kosovo, statistics are able to show that violent and organised crime in Kosovo is in a steady decline. According to Council of Europe Organised Crime Situation Report, 82% of all the organised crime investigations in Kosovo, up until 2005, involved trafficking in human beings. The other major 15% were investigations on extortion.

In 2005 the U.N Drug report has stated that organised crime in Kosovo controlled the heroin market in the region. The 2007 report identified them as new developers of the importation and distribution of South American cocaine within the region.

There are several institutions that are battling organized crime including EULEX, KFOR, and Kosovo Police. Currently, the main organised crime activity is based in north Kosovo.

Drug trafficking
Kosovo is extremely vulnerable to organised crime and thus to money laundering. In 2000, international agencies estimated that the Kosovo drug mafia was supplying up to 40% of the heroin sold in Europe and North America. Due to the 1997 unrest in Albania and the Kosovo War in 1998–1999 ethnic Albanian traffickers enjoyed a competitive advantage, which has been eroding as the region stabilises. According to a 2008 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, overall, ethnic Albanians, not only from Kosovo, supply 10 to 20% of the heroin in Western Europe, and the traffic has been declining.

From 2001 to 2007, there were 175.84kg of Heroin seized, 17.34kg of Cocaine seized and a total of 286.89kg of Cannabis seized. Out of the three main smuggling paths for europe, Kosovo is in only one of the chains. It acts as one of the transit countries between Afghanistan and Italy.

Heroin Seizures
Increasing amounts of heroin smuggled are retained in Kosovo for use by local clients. The year 2007 marked a slight increase in the street price of heroin (from EUR 21 to EUR 25 per 1 gram), but the price remained the same, with no increase, in 2008. The typical purity level of street heroin is about 1 %. The table below shows seizures of Heroin from 2007-2010.

Cocaine Seizures
Cocaine seems to arrive in Kosovo through postal deliveries or curriers from Serbia and/or South American countries, which are traditionally known for their cocaine production. It is first sent to Italy or Greece and usually in small quantities. The price for 1 gram of cocaine varied from EUR 45 to EUR 65 in 2007 and from EUR 50 to EUR 70 in 2008. The table below shows seizures of Cocaine from 2007-2010.

Cannabis Seizures
Cannabis is the only narcotic plant that is cultivated in Kosovo for domestic use primarily. According to the Kosovo Police, during the 2007–10 periods, the cultivation of cannabis was spread in most parts of the country’s territory. The table bellow shows seizures of cannabis from 2007-2010.

Organ theft
Organ theft in Kosovo (sometimes also known as the "yellow house" case) refers to alleged organ harvesting and killing of an indeterminate number of "disappeared" people. Various sources estimate that the number of victims ranges from a "handful", up to 50, and between 24 to 100. The victims are believed to be mostly ethnic Serbian men from Kosovo, allegedly killed by perpetrators with strong links to elements of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in 1999. By 2011, about 1,900 "disappeared" people (about two-thirds of them ethnic Albanians) still remained missing from the Kosovo conflict.

In 2010, a report by Swiss prosecutor Dick Marty to the Council of Europe (CoE) uncovered "credible, convergent indications" of an illegal trade in human organs going back over a decade, including the deaths of a "handful" of Serb captives allegedly killed for this purpose. On 25 January 2011, the report was endorsed by the CoE, which called for a full and serious investigation. Since the issuance of the report, however, senior sources in the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and many members of the European Parliament have expressed serious doubts regarding the report and its foundations, believing Marty failed to provide "any evidence" concerning the allegations. A EULEX special investigation was launched in August 2011.

Firearms
Kosovo is no longer a transit place or market for illegal weapons smuggling. According to a study conducted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, in 2007 civilians in Kosovo averaged at having 18 registered and unregistered firearms per 100 civilians. This figure can be compared to neighboring countries, such as Serbia with 24 per 100 civilians, Germany with 36 per 100 civilians and Albania with 10 per 100 civilians. From 1999 until 2005, 15,432 illegal guns have been siezed or collected from civilians.

Human trafficking
According to Amnesty International, the aftermath of the war resulted in an increase in the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. According to the IOM data, in 2000–2004, Kosovo was consistently ranked fourth or fifth among the countries of Southeastern Europe by number of human trafficking victims, after Albania, Moldova, Romania and sometimes Bulgaria.

Police Force of Kosovo
Kosovo Police (Policia e Kosovës) is the police law enforcement agency of the Republic of Kosovo. The Police Force was initially formed in 1999, where the first candidates began training on the 6th of September. The first generation of police officers consisted of 176 members.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that "Kosovo probably has the highest concentration of security personnel in the world". In 2008, there were a total of 26,233 security personnel, with 8,834 of them being Kosovo Police Officers.

As of 2013, the Police Force of Kosovo has a total of 51 stations across Kosovo, divided into 6 regions, which are: Prishtina, Peja, Mitrovica, Prizren, Gjilan and Ferizaj.