"Fuel smugglers costing state EUR 40mn"

Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic says that Serbia has lost some EUR 40mn as a result of oil and derivate smuggling in northern Kosovo. "We do not have precise results, but estimates are that the smuggling of fuel alone has cost Serbia about EUR 40mn. This is quite a large amount, but I believe that we are on the way to halting this in view of the level of fuel deliveries in the past ten days," Ivanovic stated. "Fuel smugglers costing state EUR 40mn" He said that the huge quantities of fuel did not remain in northern Kosovo among the Serbs, but were distributed further, thus enabling individuals to generate extra profit. Following the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence on Feb 19, 2008, the Serbs torched two administrative crossings in the north of the province, so that the transit of goods crossing into Kosovo does not undergo customs procedures at those locations. Oliver Ivanovic (Beta, archive)

"Fuel smugglers costing state EUR 40mn"

He said that the huge quantities of fuel did not remain in northern Kosovo among the Serbs, but were distributed further, thus enabling individuals to generate extra profit.

Following the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence on Feb 19, 2008, the Serbs torched two administrative crossings in the north of the province, so that the transit of goods crossing into Kosovo does not undergo customs procedures at those locations.