300 police officers and revenue inspectors conducted a raid across several southeast Macedonian cities on April 1, the culmination of months of investigation.
Thirteen police chiefs in towns across southeast
Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and president of the country’s ruling VMRO–DPMNE party told the press on Saturday the operation Detonator demonstrates that “the Government is strongly committed to fighting crime and corruption. In Macedonia, no one can expect their close relations with a political party or influential individual to provide them with protection if they are involved in criminal activities.”
In last week’s raid, police seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, a police car light with siren, “Stop - Police” signs, tear gas, bullet-proof vests, police radios, and several baseball bats. The authorities also found money in five currencies totaling over US$ 80,000. Six passports and documents for a Bulgarian passport were seized, along with records of debts, loan agreements, computer equipment, mobile phones, and contracts for business services. Over a hundred illegal gambling machines were also seized from various locations since the operation started.
The police filed charges on April 1 with the Prosecutor for Organized Crime and Corruption against 16 people. Among the charges are those for belonging to an organized crime group, narcotics production and trafficking, assault, murder, counterfeiting, extortion, money laundering, illegal gambling, and unlawful manufacture, possession and sale of weapons and explosives.
As the operation continues, the Macedonian authorities are also looking into possible international activities of the organized crime group.
