US gives Kosovo border control scanners worth $3 million

2026-01-22 21:00:59, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States has donated a mobile scanner, the Rapiscan type, to Kosovo, which has been placed at the border crossing in Merdare - which connects Kosovo with Serbia.

This technology, produced in the United States, worth $3 million, according to the US Embassy in Pristina, will help Kosovo authorities combat the smuggling of goods.

The US said that in addition to combating the smuggling of goods, the new scanner will reduce waiting times, facilitating cross-border movement.

This donation is part of a broader agreement between the US, Germany and Kosovo, "which brings concrete benefits to Kosovo, including its ability to represent itself in the Central European Free Trade Agreement, an achievement we celebrated together over a year ago," said Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy, ??Anu Prattipati.

"It is another example of the strong partnership between the US and Kosovo institutions, including Customs and Border Police," said Prattipati.

According to her, these two institutions are key to the security of Kosovo's borders and the fight against smuggling.

At the inauguration ceremony of this scanner, the acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, said that this scanner will increase Kosovo's ability to effectively prevent, detect and manage cross-border threats.

"Border security constitutes a fundamental pillar of national security and the full functioning of the rule of law. In a context of major global changes and increasing security risks, the construction and strengthening of new border capacities are necessary to guarantee stability and strengthen the ability of our institutions to face contemporary challenges," said Sveçla.

According to him, investments in modern technology, infrastructure and human resources are key elements for border management.

"In this regard, I am very happy that at the border crossing in Merdare we are inaugurating the Rapiscan scanner, which comes as a donation from the USA. This donation represents not only an important technological advancement, but also concrete evidence of the strong and sustainable partnership between Kosovo and the USA," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the director of Kosovo Customs, Agon Llugaliu, said that the country will provide two more scanners through World Bank funds.

The new scanner that was installed in Merdare is part of a joint commitment by Germany and the US, with Kosovo, for border security.

In 2023, accusing Serbia of violating the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), Kosovo banned the import of goods from its northern neighbor.

A year later, the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, stated that these two countries, along with the European Union, had promised to provide Kosovo with scanners.

That same year, the ban on Serbian goods was lifted, and Kurti said that when the scanners arrived, the work of border controls would be facilitated.

At that time, authorities in Kosovo declared that three-dimensional (3D) technology scanners would be installed at border points. /REL