Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have seized nearly 1.1 metric tonnes of dangerous synthetic cathinones with a potential street value of up to 33 million euros ($37.82 million), and arrested two suspects, marking the largest synthetic drug bust in the history of the nation of roughly 3.5 million people, the State Border Service announced.
The seized substance—an extremely dangerous stimulant used as a substitute for cocaine and ecstasy—carries a wholesale market value of 5 million euros ($5.73 million), but its street value skyrockets when broken down into individual grams sold at 20 to 30 euros ($23 to $34.50) each across the region, according to the Border Police. In addition to the massive drug cache, officers confiscated a firearm, mobile phones, corporate documentation, official stamps, and specialized full-face respirator masks with advanced air-filtration systems used to protect operators during chemical synthesis and drug "cooking." The Border Police noted that investigators have not yet established the origin or final destination of the shipment, as the investigation remains ongoing.
