On Wednesday, EULEX issued a press release in which it "commends the actions of the Kosovo Police in responding to the Interpol Red Notice by arresting Naser Kelmendi, who was a fugitive from justice in Bosnia and Hercegovina, where he is accused of attempted murder, and also accused of the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics in South America, Turkey, Serbia, Croatia and other West European countries. An Interpol Red Notice is a formal request for provisional arrest of suspects who are outside the jurisdiction where they are accused of crimes. The Kosovo Police acted professionally and competently in securing the arrest, which they did in an operation without any assistance of EULEX."

"Kosovo law allowed Mr. Kelmendi to be held for a period of 48 hours. According to Kosovo law Kosovo citizens cannot be held in detention with a view to extradition in the absence of an international agreement to that effect. Since Kosovo does not have such an international agreement with Bosnia, he had to be released after the 48 hour deadline."

"Upon the release from police detention, Naser Kelmendi was arrested based on an order issued by a EULEX prosecutor from the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office (SPRK) who yesterday initiated an investigation into this case, based on the same offences he has been accused of in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A local SPRK prosecutor will be assigned to the case to conduct the investigations in a mixed team with the EULEX prosecutor," EULEX said in its explanation.

In light of the fact that Bosnia has still not recognised Kosovo due to opposition by Bosnian Serbs, there is no appropriate agreement between the two countries on extradition.

However, Kosovo authorities have expressed readiness to take over the investigation into Kelmendi, provided that Bosnia and Herzegovina okays the transfer of his case to Pristina.

Bosnian Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic was quoted by the local media today as saying that everything would be done to bring Kelmendi to trial.

Bosnian police last year busted two criminal organisations, one of which was led by Kelmendi, who fled a day before he was to be arrested. It was believed he was hiding in Kosovo, where he was born and has strong family ties.

Because of suspicion of involvement in serious crimes, Kelmendi has been banned from entering the United States.

He has numerous properties in Bosnia believed to have been bought with illegally obtained money.

In June 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama added this 55-year-old man to a list of 97 drug lords who face U.S. sanctions under the U.S. Kingpin Act.