Large drug bust in Serbia linked to parallel investigation in North Macedonia, raising corruption concerns.
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Authorities seized a large quantity of marijuana from a warehouse belonging to Serbian Progressive Party politician Rade Spasojevic, which was reported as the largest drug bust in Serbia, valued between 7 and 10 million euros. Investigations are complicated by recent dismissals of prosecutors and police leaders involved in the case, alongside new legislation limiting prosecutorial independence. Aleksandar Vucic denied that state employees aided the smuggling into Serbia, suggesting the drugs were smuggled from North Macedonia. Concurrently, a raid in North Macedonia uncovered ten tons of marijuana near a chemical plant, leading to investigations into staff at Alfafarm, which holds cultivation permits. The Macedonian Social Democratic Union suggested government involvement on both sides was necessary for such large quantities to cross the border. This is not Vucic’s first drug-related controversy; in 2021, he had his protection extended over Predgrag Koluvja, who was accused of growing tons of marijuana but faced charges only for possessing 88 grams.
