The Macedonian police launched an operation at 05:00 this morning aimed at eradicating the criminal groups in the region of the Sar Mountain villages of Brodec, Vejce, and Vesala, the Interior Ministry reported.

Special police units, backed with helicopters, are currently conducting an operation for arrest of the criminal groups led by Lirim Jakupi-Nacist and Ramadan Shiti, who fled from the Kosovo prison Dubrava a few months ago, the Interior Ministry spokesman confirmed.

Police sources told A1 Television that a large quantity of weapons has been confiscated, but that the criminals have still not been arrested.

The Interior Ministry informed that the criminal groups have been broken up, stating that some of them are hiding in the mountain, while others are hiding in the houses of the villagers. There are no casualties among the police members.