Police in Novi Sad seize nearly five kilos of marijuana
Officers in Novi Sad arrested S. P. (45) from Irig and M. T. (25) from Temerin, seizing about 4.9 kilograms of marijuana, cocaine, hashish and 600 e-cigarettes filled with cannabis oil.
- Police in Novi Sad arrested two suspects, S. P. (45) from Irig and M. T. (25) from Temerin.
- Officers seized roughly 4.9 kilograms of marijuana, about 50 grams of cocaine and around 380 grams of hashish.
- They also found 600 e-cigarettes filled with cannabis oil.
- Both suspects were detained for up to 48 hours and reported to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office.
Police officers of the Serbian Interior Ministry in Novi Sad have arrested two men on suspicion of producing and distributing narcotics. Acting on prosecutors’ orders, they detained S. P. (45) from Irig and M. T. (25) from Temerin. The total haul comes to more than five kilograms of various controlled substances.
According to the police statement, S. P. handed M. T. a bag containing about 4.8 kilograms of marijuana and roughly 50 grams of cocaine somewhere on the outskirts of Novi Sad. The drugs were found during a search of the vehicle the younger suspect was using. A subsequent search of a house used by S. P. turned up further quantities in outbuildings, around 100 grams of marijuana and about 380 grams of hashish.
Beyond the conventional drugs, officers also seized 600 e-cigarettes loaded with cannabis oil. This is an increasingly common form of concealed distribution, in which the active compounds of cannabis are disguised inside what looks like an ordinary vaping product. Counting the amount recovered from the house, the marijuana total comes to roughly 4.9 kilograms.
How did the police operation unfold?
The arrests followed a stretch of police surveillance that pinpointed the moment the drugs changed hands on the edge of Novi Sad. The vehicle search produced the first and largest part of the seizure, the bag holding marijuana and cocaine. What might have looked like a routine stop quickly turned into a criminal case against both men.
The second batch of evidence came from a search of a property used by the older suspect. Hashish and an additional quantity of marijuana were found in the outbuildings, suggesting the site may have served as part of a stash. All seized substances will be sent for forensic analysis to confirm the exact type, purity and weight.
Following standard procedure, both suspects were held for questioning before the competent prosecutor. Based on the evidence gathered, the prosecution decides which measures to propose to the court, including a possible request for pre-trial custody.
What penalties do the suspects face?
The offence of unauthorised production and trafficking of narcotics under Article 246 of Serbia’s Criminal Code falls among the more serious charges when larger quantities are involved. The basic form carries a prison term of three to twelve years, and aggravating circumstances, such as a large quantity or organised activity, push the prescribed sentence higher.
At this stage both men are suspects, which means the rules of pre-trial proceedings and the presumption of innocence apply. A criminal complaint has been filed with the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad, which is leading the case. The detention of up to 48 hours is a procedural measure that gives prosecutors time to question the suspects and prepare their submission to the court.
A final ruling on guilt rests with the court, after the evidence is presented and the seized substances are analysed. Until then, the account rests on the claims of police and prosecutors, not on a binding verdict.
Do the recurring seizures of cannabis oil inside e-cigarettes change how the sale of such products ought to be monitored?
