NPU seizes 30 kilogrammes of cocaine on Brnčičeva Street in Ljubljana
NPU investigators arrested a Slovenian and a Serbian citizen in December while conducting a handover of 30 kg of cocaine. In court, defence lawyers challenge the legality of police conduct.
Detectives spotted suspicious vehicle whilst on lunch break
Investigators from the National Investigation Bureau (NPU) seized more than 30 kilogrammes of high-purity cocaine on Tuesday, 16 December, on Brnčičeva Street in Ljubljana, worth approximately 750,000 euros at wholesale prices. Two men were arrested at the handover: Mato Međeral, a Slovenian citizen with a prior criminal record for similar offences, and Dragan Miljić, a Serbian national. Both were brought before Ljubljana District Court judge Jasmina Ivančič yesterday for continuation of the preliminary hearing.
According to Žurnal24, at the hearing NPU detective Nives V. described how she and her colleague Branko R. had coincidentally spotted Međeral at the wheel of a Kia. "We were driving to lunch in Šentjakob, but we keep our eyes open even then," she said. "My colleague spotted a Kia on Zasavska Street. He said: 'Look at him, an old criminal.' We followed him to Brnčičeva Street, where he stopped next to a lorry."
Međeral then approached the passenger doors of the lorry, took a full shopping bag, carried it to the boot, and returned for another. The detective did not see who handed them to him. In the meantime, three more detectives arrived at the scene and both suspects were arrested.
Defence lawyers demand exclusion of evidence
Jernej Radež, the lawyer representing Dragan Miljić, asked the detective at the hearing whether police simply tracked citizens at random. Nives V. replied that she and Branko R. had acted in accordance with the law on police organisation and duties.
Radež was not convinced by her answer. He assessed that the detectives had set a trap for the accused and that their statements were mutually contradictory. "The questioned detectives quite clearly testified to false facts and came into contradiction with their previous statements," he said. He called on the court to properly assess their testimonies and exclude the evidence from the file. Međeral's defence lawyer Miloš Zarić also participated in the hearing, but details of his contribution were not reported.
District prosecutors Jerneja Pielick and Katarina Hribar responded that they stood by the evidence presented.
Cocaine packets in hidden compartment of lorry
According to Slovenske novice, investigators discovered two hidden compartments in the lorry's cab on the left and right sides of the upper section, each measuring 15 by 35 centimetres — precisely enough space for 30 packets of cocaine.
Whether the intended drug trafficking involved the Kava or Škale clan has not yet been revealed by investigators. The preliminary hearing continues.
Source: Žurnal24