Police bust seizes eight tons of illicit drugs

Police and the USKOK anti-corruption office launched a pair of operations on Thursday which netted 45 suspected drug dealers in various counties around the country.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović said that more than eight tons of illicit drugs were seized in Croatia, the USA and Spain.

"Several criminal organizations were involved here," said Božinović.

"The groups transported large quantities of drugs from Latin America and Albania to Europe in the past few years, mostly cocaine, heroin, marijuana, hashish and synthetic drugs. We are talking about the seizure of more than eight tons of various types of drugs. Some of the drugs were seized in Croatia, but most of the seizures were made in the United States and Spain. The two inter-connected police operations focused on 45 individuals," he concluded.

Half the suspects are being questioned by authorities in Zagreb, while the other half are in Split.

The minister emphasized that more than 2,600 drug crimes are prosecuted every year in Croatia.