Kosovo Police Inspectorate director Miradije Kelmendi told a news conference in Pristina that the police arrested 19 officers (11 Serbs, four Albanians and four Bosniaks) in the operation earlier on Tuesday, media reported.

The arrests took place at 12 locations and among those apprehended was one commander, three lieutenants and 15 police employees, Kelmendi said.

She added that “during the search, the police confiscated guns, technical equipment and money,” and that the investigation would continue.

The arrested police officers were suspended and put in 48-hours custody.

Earlier, the Police Inspectorate also said 19 police officers were arrested in its operation in northern Kosovo, while Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic had a different figure – 28 arrested, 20 of whom local Serbs, seven Albanians and one Bosniak.

He gave details, saying 11 Serb police officers, seven Albanian and one Bosniak were arrested alongside with nine Serb citizens.

“They arrested 12 policemen from the north and seven from the south,” Vucic said.

Kosovo's police said five police officers and six civilians were injured during the operation “against organised crime and corruption, which targeted mostly some members of the police.”

Among the arrested were two UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) members, reportedly both wounded in operation. A Russian man was discharged from a hospital, while UNMIK was still insisting on freeing of the other employee, a local Albanian.

A UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Hak said the two were wounded during the operation and that the Russian was on the check-ups after being discharged from the hospital.

He added UNMIK was worried about the arrest of its members “who performed their duty.”