In the period from 06 to 08 March 2026, during two separate operational controls, police officers from the Police Station for Border Surveillance “Ohrid Lake” deprived J.C. (53), E.B. (50), and A.Sh. (21), all from the Republic of Albania, of their liberty in the waters of Lake Ohrid.
After illegally crossing the Macedonian–Albanian state lake border with vessels, they were caught by a police patrol in Macedonian territorial waters while committing the criminal offense of “illegal fishing.” Following an order from a public prosecutor, their vessels, fishing nets, and the catch were confiscated.
After the cases were fully documented, criminal charges were filed against these individuals under Article 229 of the Criminal Code – “Illegal Fishing” and Article 9 of the Law on Border Control – “Illegal crossing of the state border.”