Macedonia's Drug Task Force Seizes 43 kg Marijuana, Arrests 241 in First Month

One month after the establishment of the Drug Task Force, North Macedonia's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a series of coordinated actions across the country. Authorities seized 43.3 kg of marijuana, 693 g of cocaine, 141 g of hashish, 691 g of amphetamine, 50 g of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 541 ecstasy tablets, 69 LSD tablets, 14 MDMA tablets and 116 packages of plant material. The operations also intercepted an estimated 25 kg of marijuana being smuggled through the Deve Bair border crossing.

In the same period, 241 individuals were detained, 21 criminal complaints were filed against 29 suspects, 131 raids on homes and other premises were carried out, and 935 vehicle inspections and 1,078 personal checks were performed. Additional material evidence — cash, foreign currency, weighing scales and other items — was recovered, notably in the Skopje Police Directorate region. The ministry said the task force will continue intensified operations, including further financial investigations and international police cooperation.