Slovenian authorities seized 865 kg of illegal drugs in what they say is one of the largest drug seizures in recent years. The bust brought down one the biggest crime rings in Europe.

A total of 10 suspects were arrested in Slovenia, and another 3 suspects were apprehended in the Netherlands. Officials have said that the suspects are Slovenian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Dutch nationals. The seizure netted a total of 865 kg of various illegal drugs: 216 kg of hashish, 38 kg of cocaine, 45 kg of heroin, 123 kg of amphetamines, and 453 kg of cannabis.

The criminal investigation began when it transpired that at least three Slovenian citizens who work for a Koper-based company are linked to an international crime ring.Police investigators started monitoring the suspects in February 2016.

The investigators quickly realized that the suspects were involved in drug trafficking. The drugs were smuggled in trucks with Slovenian license plates, though the drugs were neither loaded in nor smuggled through Slovenia. The truck drivers hid the drugs in shipments of legal goods. The drugs were trafficked through Spain, the Netherlands and Italy to Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland and Sweden.

Most of the truck drivers have already been convicted
The investigators found that the crime ring kept hiring new truck drivers, and they identified a total of 13 drivers. The investigators also said that 3 Dutch residents coordinated the drug shipments. The Slovenian members of the crime ring received their instructions from these 3 Dutch residents, and the former would then tell the truck drivers where to load and unload the drugs. Most of the truck drivers have already been convicted of drug trafficking.

According to Slovenian police, the crime ring would have made somewhere between 4 and 10 million euros if the drugs had been sold wholesale. The drugs have a reported street value of over 20 million euros. The police also said that the Slovenian members of the crime ring made between 400,000 and 1,000,000 euros through their drug trafficking efforts.

Criminal complaint filed against 19 suspects
Koper investigators filed a criminal complaint against a total of 19 suspects, among them an older minor. If convicted, they face prison sentences of 5 to 15 years. 13 of the suspects are Slovenian nationals, 2 are Dutch nationals, 3 are from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one is from Serbia.

G. K.; translated by D. V.