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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Over 500 arrests in large-scale anti-drug operation throughout Serbia

Belgrade, 31 October 2009

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic today stated that this morning the police took in over 500 persons throughout Serbia in an operation to stop drug smuggling.

Ivica Dacic at today's press conference

Author: Fonet

Dacic told a press conference that the operation Morava, which began this morning, involved around 2,000 police officers, noting that the first operation ever undertaken throughout the entire territory of Serbia is almost completed, except for the police conducting a few more searches.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the arrests were made in several Serbian towns, but most of them were undertaken in Belgrade. He also added that the suspects are for the most part Serbian citizens.

A dozen kinds of drugs were found in the possession of suspects, as well as a large amount of weapons and ammunition and 1,052,000 forged US dollars.

Dacic noted that if the police prove that the expensive cars seized were obtained from the proceeds of drug trading and other criminal activities, they will be confiscated for good in line with the Law on the confiscation of property obtained through criminal acts.

The operation was carried out together with the judiciary and the prosecution, Dacic said, adding that no information leaked during the preparations, therefore none of the suspects managed to escape arrest.

The operation was carried out in all major towns in Serbia, Dacic explained noting that the key thing is that the police have managed to cut off a drug route which supplied harmful substances to elementary and secondary schools, cafes and other places where the young gather.

The Deputy Prime Minister commended all police services taking part in the operation, noting that the operation Morava truly took drug dealers by surprise.

Dacic said that the police will continue with similar operations because the state is determined to clamp down on all kinds of crime.

The results of this operation will be fully visible over the next few days, but have proved that we are ready to do all we can to oppose drug dealers. We will not rest until we achieve that goal, Dacic noted.