Skopje, 25 January 2024 (MIA) – The police is set to file charges against 16 individuals suspected of unauthorized production and sale of narcotic drugs, murders and attempted murders. Six of them have been already arrested, while the rest, who are currently outside the country, will be arrested, said Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski at a press conference on Thursday following police raids earlier in the day.

According to the Interior Minister, all 16 were members of an international organized crime group led by SH.M. from the village of Grchec, alongside now deceased O.B. and J.K. During the period between December 2019 and March 2021, according to Spasovski, the group had organized the transport of 435 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to North Macedonia.

Spasovski said the criminal group had been founded with the goal of carrying out revenge killings and arranged assassinations, for profit. The organizers drew up plans and made decisions over who, when and in what way would be killed, while the plans were executed either by them personally or through the organized criminal group.

The Minister said the group operated on an international level, procuring cocaine from South American countries and transporting it to EU countries as well as to the drug market in North Macedonia.

“As a result of today’s activities and raids in 20 locations in Skopje, in the village of Grchec and other places, six people have been arrested. Some of the suspects have been outside the country for a longer period, and one individual, R.S., has been arrested in Spain,” said Spasovski.

Large amounts of money, luxury cars and other valuables were seized during the raids, said the Minister.

The Interior Minister said the group was aided by officials from several state institutions, including the Ministry of Interior. He said they’ve identified the individuals who come from ministries, courts, public prosecutor’s offices.

“We identified individuals from the state institutions who conveyed information, i.e., were collaborators in the criminal activities of the group. This is the beginning of the clean-up of criminal structures in the system and strengthening the trust of the citizens. In the coming period you will see new activities, at times you might also be shocked by the names, but justice must reach everyone,” said Spasovski.

Spasovski said once the arrest warrants are issued for the individuals who are currently outside of North Macedonia, the Ministry will adopt coordinative measures with the support of Europol in order to ensure their arrests.

“We know the locations of the ones who are outside the country. We have a detailed cooperation with Europol, we will continue forward with the activities,” said Spasovski.

He added that this “might be one of the most significant investigations, which finishes up the efforts to completely bust the criminal groups that have operated on the territory of the City of Skopje for more than 30 years”.

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