[REVISION HISTORY]

North Macedonia police enforcement actions

Updated 9 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-01 18:26 UTC → 2026-09-06 12:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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