Eleven suspected members of a Balkan cartel specializing in cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe have been arrested, the Croatian Interior Minister announced on Wednesday.
Among those arrested are several highly wanted criminals, according to the minister’s press release, specifying that eight were arrested in Serbia, two in Bosnia and one in Croatia.
One of the individuals arrested in Serbia is wanted by an EU member country, because he is also a member of the “Pink Panthers”, a criminal network specializing in jewelry thefts, the press release added without specifying which country he is from. ‘acts.
The police, who carried out their operation on Tuesday, also seized weapons, a large number of ammunition, luxury cars and money.
“Cocaine traffickers used different maritime routes,” explains the press release, adding that the drug, coming from Colombia, would have passed through Brazil then Ecuador.
“They are linked to the seizure of more than 500 kilos of cocaine in the port of Ploce in 2021 […] proof that cartels are increasingly using small European ports.
Located between Split and Dubrovnik, the small port of Ploce is a few kilometers from the border with Bosnia.
