Sremska Mitrovica: kilograms of marijuana seized, suspect arrested
Sremska Mitrovica Police arrested a young man; packaging equipment was found, and the case has been handed to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office.
Officers from the Sremska Mitrovica Police Administration arrested a suspect on charges of unauthorised production and trafficking of narcotics. The operation was announced on May 27 by the Interior Ministry.
The suspect was caught inside a residential property, where, according to the on-scene findings, he was preparing narcotics for further sale.
What was found at the scene
The following items were located and seized:
- several kilograms of a substance reasonably suspected to be marijuana
- a digital scale
- vacuum-sealing equipment
- a large number of pre-packaged bags ready for distribution
All seized items were taken by officers of the National Criminal-Technical Centre for forensic analysis.
Examination before classification
The examination will establish the exact mass and purity of the substance. That is a prerequisite for the legal classification of the offence.
The criminal offence of unauthorised production and trafficking of narcotics under Article 246 of the Criminal Code carries a sentence of three to twelve years. In its aggravated form, when committed within a group or involving a large quantity, the sentence rises to between five and fifteen years.
Detention motion as the expected next step
The suspect will be referred within the statutory deadline to the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Sremska Mitrovica, which will propose either short-term custody or pre-trial detention. At the time of writing, the prosecutor’s office had not issued a statement on the suspect’s procedural status or on possible accomplices.
According to sources close to the investigation, the inquiry is part of a wider spring operation by the Organised Crime Service. The aim is to identify the marijuana distribution chain across the Srem region. The MUP has not officially confirmed whether the actions are linked to other cases.
What the prosecutor’s office does after questioning
The Sremska Mitrovica Higher Prosecutor’s Office, by practice, issues a decision to open a formal investigation after questioning. At that stage it gathers expert reports and hears witnesses. Where needed, it orders covert surveillance under Article 162 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The next procedural step is the delivery of the criminal police report and evidence to the prosecutor’s office. A detention motion will then be expected. Such a motion is decided by the duty pre-trial judge at the Higher Court.
MUP appeals to citizens
The Interior Ministry announced continued preventive activity and checks in areas where grounds exist to suspect illicit drug trafficking. Citizens are asked to report suspicious activity by calling 192.
Will the investigation uncover broader distribution channels to other cities? Follow our drug seizure coverage on the portal.
