STA, February 28, 2018 – The Slovenian police have helped Italian police bust an international drug trafficking ring that smuggled drugs from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Italy. Eighteen suspects were remanded in custody in Italy, Koper police said on Wednesday.
The well-organised 30-strong ring trafficked cocaine, methamphetamine, heroine, hashish and cannabis via Croatia and Slovenia, part of the so-called Balkan route.
The drug cartel is estimated to have illegally gained one million euro, according to a press release from the Koper Police Department.
In Slovenia, the members would meet to arrange the time and place of drug smuggling across the border into Italy.
The deliveries would also be paid in advance in the territory of Slovenia, which was also used to sleep overnight in the area of Ljubljana and on the coast.
Koper police has participated in the investigation upon Italy's request since August, alongside Croatian, Bosnian and Austrian police forces.
Their investigation centred on eight suspects aged 29 to 60, of whom two were Croatian citizens and six Bosnian citizens.
The investigation culminated last Thursday in the area of Trento, Italy, when 18 suspects were remanded in custody and five were sent in house detention.
The other seven suspects are still at large.
During the operation, large quantities of drugs were seized in Italy, including 1.5 kilos of cocaine, as well as 12 guns, four cars and 13,250 euro in cash.
The Koper police have handed all evidence obtained in Slovenia to the Koper District Prosecution Office, which will hand it to the Italian prosecution, as all suspects will be processed in Italy.
