In the latest round of testing for police cadet applicants in Kosovo, at least 13 out of nearly 1,000 tested individuals were found to be positive for drug use. Of these, at least eight have been excluded from the recruitment process. Their cases are now being reviewed by the courts.
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| Police Cadet Applicants in Kosovo, Pristina, March 2023 (archive) |
What were the police officers tested for?
To be accepted into the Kosovo Police Force, cadet candidates must undergo several screenings, including tests for various drugs, medical exams, psychological evaluations, and others.
Until the end of last year, drug tests were conducted in private institutions. However, following an agreement between the Kosovo Police and the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, these tests are now conducted in state institutions.
Shemsi Veseli, Director of the Biochemistry Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, confirmed to Radio Free Europe that some candidates tested positive for amphetamines and other narcotics.
"In the first group of 426 individuals tested in January, eight tested positive, while in the group tested in March, out of 519 individuals, five tested positive," said Veseli. "It should be noted that in the first group, the positives were mainly for amphetamines, while in the second group, there was a variety of substances detected."
What is amphetamine?
Amphetamine is a stimulant drug that speeds up messages traveling between the brain and the body. It can be legal when prescribed by a doctor for certain issues like attention deficit disorders or sleep disturbances, and illegal when used without a prescription to enhance performance.
According to the Mayo Clinic website, when prescribed, amphetamine is part of a comprehensive program that includes social, educational, and psychological treatment for the patient.
The Kosovo Police stated that decisions have already been made to exclude the first eight candidates who tested positive for narcotic substances from the recruitment process. A similar decision is expected for the other five.
"Candidates who do not meet the required standards in any of the fields where medical/psychological checks are conducted cannot proceed further in the procedures to become cadets of the Kosovo Police," said a statement from the institution.
The Kosovo Police did not respond to inquiries about whether there were positive drug use cases in the past when tests were conducted in private institutions.
Legal actions
Radio Free Europe learned that at least two cadet candidates who were excluded from the recruitment process have filed lawsuits against the Kosovo Police.
For one of the cases, the Basic Court in Prizren confirmed that it had taken a procedural decision, requesting the Biochemistry Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo to conduct detailed expertise to determine whether the individual in question is a drug user.
In response to inquiries, the court stated that clarification is needed regarding the time period to which the result refers - whether it reflects only the current state or a longer period.
The Prizren court emphasized that after receiving the expert report, it would continue to handle the case.
Radio Free Europe also contacted the plaintiff's lawyer, who declined to comment.
The Pristina Basic Court and the Kosovo Police did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuits.
"Tests are reliable"
The Director of the Biochemistry Clinic, Shemsi Veseli, stated that the tests conducted at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo reduce the risk of future police officers being drug users.
Regarding the tests conducted, he stated that there is no doubt about their accuracy.
"There should be no hesitation [about accepting the results], because the tests are secure and there is no bias. We conduct the tests without knowing the candidates' names... The court has raised this issue, and we will respond," said Veseli, without providing further details.
Nardi Sheqerxhiu, a toxicology specialist, explained that the tests used at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo for identifying narcotic or abusive substances are rapid urine tests.
"Amphetamine can be detected in urine for up to 48 hours after the last use. After 48 hours, the amphetamine test in urine may result negative because the continuously consumed substances are eliminated through urine," Sheqerxhiu told Radio Free Europe.
This means that if a police cadet candidate who tested positive for amphetamines is retested, they may test negative.
Sheqerxhiu mentioned that there are hair tests available that provide results for a longer period after the last use of abusive substances, but such tests are not conducted in Kosovo.
Established nearly 25 years ago, the Kosovo Police's mission is to "provide law enforcement in a professional, effective, and efficient manner."
It has over 9,000 members with various ranks. Their salaries range from 210 euros per month for police cadets to over 1,500 euros per month for the general director.
Kosovo police officers do not have health or life insurance.