Police arrest billion-forint illegal drug-trafficking gang
Five men have been detained on suspicion of trafficking in banned performance-enhancing substances and unlicensed medicines. Their annual turnover exceeded one billion forints.
Police arrest billion-forint illegal drug-trafficking gang
The investigating judge of the Budakörnyék District Court has remanded four men in custody and ordered supervision of a fifth. According to the suspicion, since 2020 they have been involved in dealing in banned substances as members of an international network.
The anti-narcotics department of the Police Headquarters National Investigation Office is investigating criminal pharmaceutical counterfeiting. Members of the group regularly transported preparations from Hungary to Slovakia, then forwarded them by post throughout Europe. Customers settled accounts using digital currency or transfers to foreign bank accounts.
According to investigators, their annual revenue exceeded one billion forints. Police conducted house searches where they found expensive vehicles, luxury watches and cash sums in the millions.
One of the accused is a well-known Hungarian bodybuilder who handed over two boxes of banned preparations to a person in early April, who was later checked by police. This man also sold banned substances domestically.
The court justified its decision by saying that two suspects have foreign connections, creating a risk of absconding, and it is probable they would attempt to destroy evidence or influence witnesses. The fifth accused partially admitted the offence; the others denied it or remained silent. The order is not final, but is immediately enforceable as appeals have been lodged against it.
Source: Telex
Source: Telex