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The UK government has announced sanctions against several criminal groups involved in people smuggling through Western Balkan routes, including a Kosovo-based document forgery ring known as the “Krasniqi Network”.
The "Krasniqi" network, based in Kosovo, is suspected of producing counterfeit passports, identity cards and driver's licenses for more than 50 countries, including the United Kingdom.
British authorities have assessed that the group has helped Balkan gangs facilitate the illegal passage of migrants to Western Europe.
The sanctions list includes several members of the network, including Burim Krasniqi (identified as the leader), Arif and Valon Krasniqi, Sami Duriqi, Granit Avdyli, Nexhmije Selmani, Endrit and Shkëmbim Ermellahu. They are involved in the production, distribution and provision of equipment for document forgery.
“Targeted today, with the support of the Kosovo authorities, is the Krasniqi forgery network, a Kosovo-based criminal gang that operated a sophisticated forgery laboratory producing forged documents.”
“A Kosovo-based organized crime group responsible for producing forged documents and supplying them to criminal gangs. The group created forged passports, identity documents and driving licenses for over 50 countries, including the United Kingdom, using a sophisticated forgery laboratory.
These include:
Burim Krasniqi, leader of the Krasniqi network.
Arif Krasniqi, a broker for the group who secured clients for their services.
Flamur Krasniqi, a member of the group whose forged documents were found.
Valon Krasniqi, involved in the production of forged documents.
Sami Duriqi, involved in the production of forged documents.
Granit Avdyli, involved in the production of documents and advertising of the group's services.
Nexhmije Selmani, provided the premises used by the group for document forgery and was involved in providing forgery equipment.
Endrit Ermellahu, involved in the production of forged documents.
Shkhembim Ermellahu, a member of the group whose forged documents were found," the British government statement said.
These developments are related to a case previously discovered by the Special Prosecution Office and the Kosovo Police, in January 2025, when Kosovo authorities seized a sophisticated document forgery laboratory in Pristina.
The raid found over 20,000 microchips, professional printers, laser machines, and thousands of forged documents from 51 different countries.
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