Following an investigation by the Investigation Unit within the Control and Investigation Department, an international criminal group linked to illegal drug trafficking has been dismantled. Five individuals have been detained, and criminal charges have been filed against them for the unauthorized production and distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors.
The operation was launched based on intelligence from the Intelligence Unit; subsequently, mobile teams from the Operational Affairs Unit carried out operational measures and intercepted an attempt to traffic 79 kg of marijuana, destined for the Turkish market, at the Dojran border crossing as the vehicle was exiting the country. The marijuana was seized, and the driver, a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was detained by the Investigation Unit. In cooperation with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption (PPO OCC), the unit initiated a thorough pre-investigative procedure to identify all perpetrators.
The pre-investigation established that the truck driven by the Bosnian national had entered Macedonia loaded with iron profiles intended for transport to Greece. Following a prior agreement with individuals from Macedonia, the marijuana was transferred to the truck at a pre-arranged location and the vehicle was sealed using a seal the driver had in his possession. He then continued his journey toward Greece via the Dojran border crossing, where he was intercepted by mobile units.
With this operation, the Customs Administration once again confirms that it systematically combats crime through robust intelligence and operational activities, as well as thorough investigations.