Large quantities of marijuana were seized across Serbia and North Macedonia, linking illegal drug networks to political figures.
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Authorities seized five tons of marijuana in Kruševac, Serbia, at a warehouse owned by an associate of Aleksandar VuÄŤić, with investigations suggesting the narcotics were smuggled from North Macedonia possibly with the help of Serbian state bodies. Later, North Macedonia’s Ministry of Interior and Health initiated proceedings and confiscated another 40 tons of marijuana due to irregularities in its legal therapeutic cannabis distribution. International monitoring suggests that illegal drug networks spanning Serbia and North Macedonia extend across the Balkans, possessing connections to the Netherlands and Italy, highlighting regulatory gaps that have made the region a hub for both investors and illicit traders. The scandal involves a Skopje company, Alfafarm, which worked with Serbian Ivan Dragnic and Macedonian citizen Dragan Krastev; several individuals, including Rade Spasojevic, who owned the warehouse where five tons were found, were detained in Serbia. These individuals maintained close ties with Serbian state officials, such as Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic. The Serbian prosecution alleges the cannabis was transported from North Macedonia by truck for distribution to other European countries. While therapeutic cannabis cultivation and trade have been legal in North Macedonia since 2016, local authorities estimate an annual turnover of 250 million euros, with many companies currently under investigation despite having received licenses. Furthermore, investigative reports indicated that criminal groups and individuals with prior records were operating within officially licensed Macedonian producers and distributors years ago.
