International drug-smuggling group broken; 79 kg of marijuana seized at Dojran

An international criminal group linked to drug smuggling was dismantled after customs officers intercepted a load of 79 kilograms of marijuana at the Dojran border crossing, authorities said. Five people were arrested and criminal charges were filed for unauthorized production and distribution of narcotic drugs.

The operation began following an intelligence tip. Mobile teams from the Customs Administration stopped an attempt to smuggle the narcotics at the state exit point at the Dojran border crossing, where the shipment—intended for the Turkish market—was seized and the driver, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was immediately detained.

The driver had entered North Macedonia driving a truck loaded with iron profiles bound for Greece. According to investigators, the marijuana was transferred into his vehicle at a prearranged location after coordination with accomplices inside the country.

Preliminary probe with the specialized prosecutor

The preliminary investigation was carried out in cooperation with the Public Prosecutor's Office for Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption. Prosecutors and customs investigators established the chain of events that led to the interception at Dojran.

Authorities reported that after the narcotics were loaded into the truck the driver sealed the vehicle with a seal he had brought and proceeded toward the Dojran crossing, where customs mobile units intercepted him on the exit from the country.

The Customs Administration said the action demonstrates its continued commitment to systematically combating crime through strong operational and intelligence measures.

Photo: press material from the event