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10 clusters · 32 sources · 42 days · First seen · Last updated

North Macedonia police enforcement actions

Overview

In late July 2026, the Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs secured a two‑year contract for 10,000 rapid drug‑testing kits, sourced from China, to enable police officers to screen drivers for a range of illicit substances on the road. The kits, priced at about €3.5 each and advertised with 99% accuracy, were slated for delivery in early August, after which a small cohort of officers would be trained and subsequently train other units. Within days, police launched a road‑traffic control operation that fined 178 motorcyclists and drivers of light electric vehicles for offences such as riding without helmets, driving without a licence, and operating vehicles with expired registration or excessive noise. The same period saw a separate raid on two hotels in the Gostivar region, resulting in the detention of two individuals – one for obstructing police and another for possession of marijuana – and the identification of 15 foreign nationals staying illegally. On the night of August 16/17, 2026, a separate nationwide crackdown conducted between 23:00 and 05:00 resulted in 63 sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol. This operation, spanning regions such as Bitola, Kumanovo, Veles, and Ohrid, led to eight drivers being deprived of their liberty under Article 297-a of the Criminal Code. Enforcement intensified through late August. On August 22, Skopje police issued 262 sanctions focusing on small motorized vehicles. On August 24, a nationwide crackdown targeting cyclists and riders resulted in 140 violations, including 102 helmet-related offenses and two alcohol-related incidents, with the highest number of violations in Strumica. Between August 24 and August 26, intensive traffic controls resulted in 1,621 recorded violations and 43 arrests for reckless driving. On September 5, 2026, police arrested 17 drivers for unsafe vehicle operation during a 24-hour period.

Entities

Ministry of Internal Affairs · Tabanovce · Bitola · Skopje · Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MPB)

Timeline

  1. 6 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia electric scooter violations persist despite new laws

    New traffic laws in North Macedonia have yet to curb widespread electric scooter violations, with many riders still using sidewalks and ignoring safety rules despite increased fines and speed limits.

  2. 6 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police arrest 17 drivers for traffic offenses

    North Macedonian police arrested 17 drivers in 24 hours for offenses including unlicensed driving, driving under the influence, and driving against traffic.

  3. 10 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    North Macedonia expands Safe City system to monitor motorcycles

    North Macedonia's ‘Safe City’ system can now identify motorcycles via new technical equipment, with nine speeding violations recorded on the first day of implementation.

  4. 16 days ago

    [CRIME] 10 sources
    North Macedonia police arrest 43 for reckless driving during traffic blitz

    North Macedonian police recorded 1,621 traffic violations and arrested 43 people for reckless driving during a three-day intensive patrol, including high-speed arrests of drivers from Serbia and the Netherlands

  5. 18 days ago

    [CRIME] 13 sources
    North Macedonia police issue 140 traffic violations in nationwide crackdown

    North Macedonian police recorded 140 traffic violations during a five-hour crackdown on cyclists and motorcyclists, with 102 cases involving failure to wear a helmet.

  6. 21 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Skopje police sanction 262 drivers in targeted traffic operation

    Skopje police sanctioned 262 drivers during a targeted traffic operation, with 102 penalties issued to motorcycle and moped riders, primarily for not wearing helmets.

  7. 25 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police issue 63 alcohol-related driving sanctions

    North Macedonia's Ministry of Internal Affairs issued 63 alcohol-related driving sanctions and detained eight drivers during a nationwide crackdown.

  8. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    North Macedonia police issue 1,322 traffic fines in two-day crackdown

    North Macedonian police issued 1,322 traffic fines and arrested 32 drivers for reckless driving during a two-day crackdown on speeding, unlicensed driving, and alcohol consumption.

  9. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    North Macedonia police crackdown on traffic violations and hotel raid

    Macedonian police fined 178 drivers for traffic offences, arrested 13, and later raided Gostivar hotels, detaining two people and 15 foreign nationals for illegal stay and drug possession.

  10. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Macedonian Police to Deploy Fast Drug Tests for Roadway Screening

    North Macedonia's police have bought 10,000 cheap Chinese rapid drug tests (99% accurate, 3‑10 min results) for driver screening, under a €80k two‑year contract with VisioMed, delivery expected early August.

Sources

alfa.mk · brif.mk · centar.mk · espreso.co.rs · expres.mk · koha.mk · libertas.mk · lider.mk · lokalno.mk · makpress.mk · miroslavaarpasova.blog.sme.sk · nacionalno.mk · nezavisen.mk · opserver.mk · petel.bg · plusinfo.mk · press24.mk · prv.mk · racin.mk · shenja.tv · sitel.com.mk · skopjeinfo.mk · slobodenpecat.mk · telegrafi.com · tetova1.mk · tocka.com.mk · utrinskivesnik.mk · utro.mk · viaranews.com · vreme.mk · zoom.mk · zurnal.mk

This summary has been updated 9 times: see revision history