Kosovo police on Monday arrested 12 border police officers suspected of involvement in the smuggling of goods, an official said Monday.

Kosovo police general director Sheremet Ahmeti said the arrests were made at the request of the public prosecutors' office.

- They are being detained - Ahmeti told reporters, without revealing the charges against the suspects.

Local media reported that the officers were members of mobile border patrols in charge of overseeing and preventing the smuggling of goods in eastern Kosovo.

Serbia consider Kosovo a part of its territory

The around 7,000-strong multi-ethnic police force has won praise as it is one of the few Kosovo institutions where the majority Albanians and minority Serbs work together well.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February last year and has so far been recognised by 62 countries, including the United States and most of the European Union countries.

However, Serbia opposes independence and continues to consider Kosovo a part of its territory.