Serbian prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (JTOK) met in Belgrade with colleagues and police officers from North Macedonia, where they agreed on further steps within the investigation into the seizure of a large quantity of marijuana in Konjuh, as well as in North Macedonia, Nova.rs reports.
Earlier this week, the Macedonian Minister of Police said that criminal charges had been filed against 10 individuals over the marijuana found in Serbia — five tons seized in Konjuh near Kruševac, in cooperation between the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP) and the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (TOK). At that time, SNS councilor Rade Spasojević was arrested, along with several other individuals. In Serbia, so far, five people suspected of drug smuggling have been arrested in connection with narcotics found in the warehouse of the company “Florakom,” owned by Rade Spasojević.
The owner’s son, Nebojša Spasojević, was also arrested, as well as a worker who was found in the warehouse. In addition, Ivan Dragnić from Kruševac was arrested — co-owner of the company “Alfafarm” from North Macedonia, which engaged in the legal production of marijuana and illegal export. The company “Alfafarm” has also come under investigation by the police and prosecution authorities of North Macedonia.
Among the suspects linked to the smuggling of five tons of marijuana from North Macedonia to Serbia is Uroš Mladenovski. He was apprehended before the main operation, in Belgrade, with 100 kilograms of marijuana, which is believed to have originated from the warehouse in Konjuh, Nova.rs writes. In addition to narcotics, three automatic rifles and one handheld rocket launcher “zolja” were seized. Aleksandar Mijajlović was also arrested in Serbia, suspected of being the leader of this criminal group.
The Basic Criminal Court in Skopje ordered detention on February 18 for two individuals suspected of being connected to the five tons of marijuana seized in Serbia. In North Macedonia, police seized around 40 tons of marijuana that were not “on the books.” In North Macedonia, the production of marijuana for medical purposes is otherwise permitted, but the entire process is supposed to be strictly controlled and such marijuana cannot end up on the streets.
The two leading parties in North Macedonia, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and VMRO-DPMNE, are accusing each other over who is to blame for this scandal — whether the current VMRO-DPMNE government or the former SDSM government. What they accuse each other of includes drug trafficking, as well as cooperation with the Serbian Progressive Party and the authorities in Serbia, Nova.rs reports.
Yesterday it was announced that the investigation in North Macedonia is being conducted against six individuals.
Cooperation with the Serbian special prosecutor’s office
However, the investigation is still ongoing in Serbia as well, it was confirmed to the Nova.rs portal by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (JTOK), under whose authority the seizure of five tons of marijuana in Konjuh was carried out. Since this is an international case, investigative authorities are closely cooperating with colleagues from North Macedonia.
Who is Rade Spasojević: Seedlings and cucumbers, local SNS and – five tons
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime held a meeting at the JTOK premises with the acting prosecutor and police officers from North Macedonia. It was agreed that each prosecutor’s office will act within the territory of its jurisdiction, and through international legal assistance there will be an exchange of collected evidence,” JTOK told the Nova.rs portal.
An expert examination of the automatic rifles and the zolja has been ordered so that the suspects can respond regarding those circumstances, after which witness questioning will follow, Nova.rs writes.
As stated, data relating to the movement of suspects and their border crossings are being established.
According to unofficial information from Nova, it is expected that the competent authorities in Serbia will receive from North Macedonia all data related to the company “Alfafarm” and the individuals they identify in connection with that enterprise and the suspects who were apprehended in Serbia.
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Source: N1, Foto; Mup