Serbian police seized about five tonnes of marijuana in a rural area near the central Serbian city of Kruševac, authorities said, marking the largest confiscation of the drug in the country’s history.
Officers discovered the haul at an outbuilding on a property in the village of Konjuh during a multi-day operation by the Criminal Police Directorate, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić told reporters. The street value of the drugs was estimated at €7 million to €10 million.
Two men, identified by their initials R. S. (68) and N. S. (40), were arrested in connection with the case, and a third suspect remains at large, Dačić said. Searches are continuing for the additional suspect, who police believe may be a key figure in the organised crime group.
In addition to the marijuana, officers found and seized four automatic rifles, an anti-tank rocket launcher and ammunition, as well as cash and equipment for packaging narcotics, prosecutors said.
Dačić described the operation as a significant success in the fight against drug trafficking, saying the seizure would help “protect children from being poisoned” by keeping the drugs off the streets.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime said the investigation was coordinated with police and that several other suspects are expected to be questioned as the probe continues.
Serbia, a transit route for Balkan drug networks, has stepped up efforts to combat trafficking. Last year authorities seized more than four tonnes of marijuana in separate operations, highlighting the scale of the narcotics trade in the region.