Austria police seize 200 kg of cannabis in international drug bust

Austrian authorities have dismantled an international drug trafficking route after seizing approximately 200 kilograms of cannabis from a truck with Bulgarian registration. The operation, which began following intelligence received in July, involved tracking the vehicle as it traveled from Spain through France and either Italy or Slovenia toward Lower Austria.

Two individuals were arrested during the operation in Traiskirchen: a 58-year-old Bulgarian driver and a 30-year-old Slovenian resident of Vienna who was allegedly intended to receive the shipment. Investigators determined that roughly 100 kilograms of the cannabis were destined for the Slovenian national, while the remaining half was intended for distribution in Greece. The black market value of the drugs is estimated to exceed 2 million euros.

During the raid, police also discovered approximately 6 kilograms of a substance initially suspected to be cocaine, though laboratory analysis later confirmed it was a non-active imitation. The investigation is being led by the Austrian prosecution in Graz, with cooperation from Europol and law enforcement agencies in Bulgaria and Spain to identify further members of the organized crime group.