Macedonian customs seize 2,000 vials of MRI contrast agent at Deve Bair

A mobile team from the Department of Operational Works of the Macedonian Customs Service halted a cargo truck at the Deve Bair border crossing after suspecting irregularities. The driver, a Kosovar citizen employed by a transport company in Kosovo, was found to have concealed approximately 2,000 vials of the medical contrast solution “Gadonas 7.5 ml”, used for magnetic resonance imaging, in multiple hidden compartments within the vehicle cabin.

Customs officials confiscated the vials, filed a criminal complaint for smuggling, and highlighted that such medical products require specific import permits and strict storage conditions. The agency noted that in the current year it has thwarted 13 smuggling attempts and seized a total of 29,000 medical items, emphasizing its commitment to preventing unsafe medical substances from reaching the public.