Several Macedonian companies licensed to cultivate medical cannabis have seen ownership links to individuals from Balkan criminal networks, raising concerns over the sector’s integrity, DW reported.
Authorities are investigating whether the profitable medical cannabis business has become a cover for illicit activity, following the discovery of five tons of marijuana near Kruševac, Serbia, allegedly originating from Macedonia. Subsequent seizures of tens of tons of domestic soil have triggered suspicions of illegal storage and distribution.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski posted images of the seized cannabis on Facebook, calling the situation “the result of misguided policies from a previous era that should never be repeated.”
Government steps in
In response, the Macedonian government ordered extraordinary inspections of all licensed medical cannabis firms nationwide. Companies are required to submit reports within 45 days. The government will also reactivate the inter-ministerial commission tasked with preventing unauthorized production, trade, and abuse of drugs, which has been largely inactive since its formation in 2017.
Although medical cannabis is legally restricted to indoor cultivation under strict conditions, a 2023 regulation allowed partially open or outdoor cultivation, sparking criticism from experts. “Cannabis grown outdoors cannot be used for pharmaceutical purposes because the risk of contamination is too high,” said a source familiar with the industry.
Past violations and regional links
Authorities cited multiple violations, including a 2022 inspection in Orovnik, Debrca municipality, where 2,388 cannabis plants were grown outdoors, contrary to the law. Video surveillance was inactive, and equipment for cannabis oil production was found, despite no license for extraction. Foreign nationals were also employed without registration.
Investigations point to connections with Serbian actors, including Ivan Dragnić, co-owner of “Alphafarm” in Skopje, and Aleksandar Mijajlović, linked to “Green Life” in Valandovo. Previous cross-border cases, including the arrest of Predrag Koluvija in Serbia in 2019, suggested exports to Macedonian licensed firms.
Large shipments raise questions
In August 2021, 8.5 tons of dried cannabis flowers arrived from Lesotho for extraction in Macedonia, intended for export to Europe. Details on the Macedonian receiving company were not disclosed. In December 2021, 2,125 kilograms were shipped from Johannesburg to Skopje by Canadian-American company Instadose Pharma Corp, reportedly for licensed local processing and subsequent export to Western Europe.
The government has yet to clarify oversight measures for such large shipments or the role of domestic licensees, as public scrutiny grows over the potential misuse of the sector.