Key Organisers Behind Major Drug Trafficking to Nordic Countries Arrested in Serbia

In a coordinated international operation, Serbian authorities have arrested five individuals suspected of orchestrating the large-scale transport of illegal drugs to Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. This action follows earlier arrests in Serbia of eight individuals believed to have acted as fictitious owners of haulage companies used in the drug trafficking scheme.

The operation was part of a joint investigation team (JIT) involving Serbia and the four Nordic countries, established with support from Eurojust. The suspects are believed to be part of a criminal network responsible for moving significant quantities of narcotics, including cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis, from Spain and the Netherlands to the Nordic region. Transport routes typically passed through France and Germany, with drugs concealed in secret compartments within freight trucks. In some cases, firearms were also smuggled.

Local criminal organisations in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway handled the distribution and sale of the narcotics. Several individuals involved in the network have already been arrested or convicted in these countries in recent years. While an exact quantity is not available, Serbian authorities estimate the network trafficked at least 1.6 tonnes of drugs and over 62,000 pills.

The investigation, ongoing since 2020, culminated in intensified cooperation with the formation of a JIT in April 2024. Eurojust facilitated coordination by organising operational meetings and providing financial, logistical, and strategic support.

During the recent actions in Serbia, authorities seized encrypted phones, firearms, ammunition, and business documents tied to the transport companies used in the criminal operations. The close collaboration between all participating countries was strengthened by the presence of Liaison Prosecutors from Serbia and Norway at Eurojust, enabling real-time information sharing and streamlined cooperation.

This cross-border effort involved:

In Serbia: Prosecution Office for Organised Crime in Belgrade and the Police Service for the Fight Against Organised Crime
In Sweden: Swedish Prosecution Authority’s National Unit Against Organised Crime and Swedish Customs
In Finland: Southern Finland Prosecution District and the National Bureau of Investigation
In Denmark: National Special Crime Unit
In Norway: Innlandet Police District