Turkish mafia leader Sedat Peker has been implicated in a police investigation in North Macedonia against an alleged criminal gang supplying false Macedonian passports and identity documents, Balkan Insight website reported on Tuesday.
At least nine police officers have been arrested as part of the probe, the Interior Ministry of North Macedonia told Balkan Insight, which is being carried out in coordination with Interpol and the Office for Investigation of the U.S. embassy in Skopje.
Peker, who was arrested in North Macedonia on Jan. 18 and deported to neighbouring Kosovo, probably obtained a passport and identity document under the false identity of Xhadin Amedovski with an address in Skopje, Balkan Insight said.
“At the time of Peker’s arrest police failed to explain to why Peker, a Turkish citizen, was sent to Kosovo, and did not confirm whether or not he also had a Kosovo passport,” it said.
Kosovan authorities told Balkan Insight that Peker, while not having a Kosovo passport, has a temporary business residence permit in the country.
Peker, a convicted Turkish mafia boss known for his far-right views and support for the Turkish government, was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2007 on charges of building and leading a criminal organisation, robbery, forgery and two counts of false imprisonment.
The 50-year-old fled Turkey in January 2020 under mysterious circumstances.
Ahval