Authorities Crack Down on Smuggling Ring

Police seized over 500 kilograms of marijuana and arrested three men.

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SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) โ€” Police in North Macedonia said Sunday they have cracked down on an international drug smugglersโ€™ ring in two separate operations in the countryโ€™s south, seizing over 500 kilograms of marijuana and arrested three men.

Interior Ministry spokesman Toni Agelovski said in a written statement Sunday that 424 kilograms of marijuana packed in 519 plastic bags were found hidden in a truck under wastepaper late Saturday at a border check point with neighboring Greece.

The drug, originating from Kosovo, was to be transported through North Macedonia and Greece to the black market in Turkey.

Police said a 47-year-old man, identified only by his initials as D.N., was arrested under suspicion of illegal drug smuggling.

In a separate operation near the southern border town of Gevgelija, police and border army patrol stopped a car during a routine check and found 93 kilograms of marijuana. Two men tried to flee but were arrested.

North Macedonia is on the crossroads of the drug smugglersโ€™ route and police often seize large quantities of drugs.

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