Six men charged with organised drug trafficking and bombing attacks
Zagreb criminals allegedly cultivated marijuana in greenhouses, smuggled South American cocaine in containers, and used explosive devices twice against rivals.
Six men charged with organised drug trafficking and bombing attacks
The Special State Prosecutor's Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime has formally charged six men, aged between 38 and 61, for years of activity within a criminal association. The charges relate to a series of illegal activities in the area of the capital, Primorsko-Goranska and Split-Dalmatian counties, as well as South America.
According to 24sata, investigators believe that Tin Š. (39), arrested upon leaving the country at Bajakovo in May of the previous year, was the coordinator of the entire operation. He allegedly connected four others — Tomislav T. (42), Ivan Š. (61), Zvonimir B. (40), Vedran B. (38) and Dario P. (40) — with the aim of smuggling narcotics and cultivating cannabis.
The network allegedly established secret laboratories for marijuana production. One operated in an apartment controlled by I.Š., where approximately 18 kilograms of the plant grew from seeds provided by the leader. Another location was a greenhouse near Bratina, near Pisarovine, registered to a company run by Z.B. under the pretence of legal industrial hemp cultivation. Within it, around 100 kilograms of marijuana were produced, estimated to be worth at least 200,000 euros. After becoming concerned about inspections, the plants were moved to an apartment in Zagreb, and cultivation equipment was destroyed. Total production was estimated at 118 kilograms, of which at least 10.5 kilograms were distributed to the black market.
Šlogar is linked to the procurement of at least kilograms of cocaine, whilst Barišić was responsible for delivery to customers. A larger shipment was supposed to arrive from Colombia hidden among a coal cargo, organised through the company of T.T. To deceive customs officers, the drugs were dyed black. In April 2022, containers arrived by ship at the Rijeka port and were then transported to a warehouse in Sesvete that had been rented the day before the raid. Police seized 8.47 kilograms of purified cocaine on 3 June of that year.
Earnings from drug sales were estimated at 52,200 euros, divided among participants according to agreement.
Beyond drug trafficking, investigators suspect the leader ordered violent actions against rival dealers. Thus, Vedran B., after an argument, offered one thousand euros for the burning of his opponent's vehicle and his father's car. When Tomislav T. failed to locate those vehicles, it was agreed that explosives would be thrown into the yard of the 72-year-old. T.T. allegedly did this on 30 January 2021.
In a second alleged case, Šlogar planned a shooting at a Zagreb dealer as a warning in the context of the smuggling agreement. T.T. reconnoitred locations, tracked the victim to a café and an apartment, but failed to locate him at the crucial moment, so the operation was called off.
Members of the group communicated via the encrypted platform SKY ECC, but investigators were unable to break all security codes, which suggests the possibility of additional unknown participants in the network.
Source: 24sata.hr