Zrenjanin: about a million psychoactive pills seized
Police in Zrenjanin arrested a Novi Sad man found with around one million tablets from the controlled psychoactive substances list and some 5,000 boxes of cigarettes.
- A 50-year-old man from Novi Sad, identified as J. M., was arrested in Zrenjanin on suspicion of drug trafficking and illegal trade in excise goods.
- A search uncovered around one million tablets from the controlled psychoactive substances list and roughly 5,000 boxes of cigarettes.
- The suspect was detained for up to 48 hours, with a criminal complaint filed to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Zrenjanin.
Officers of the Criminal Police Directorate, the Service for Combating Organized Crime and the Zrenjanin police arrested a man who, according to police, was found with around one million tablets from the list of psychoactive substances. The arrest took place on June 12 in Zrenjanin.
The suspect, identified as J. M. (50) from Novi Sad, faces charges of unauthorized drug trafficking and illegal trade in excise goods. Acting on prosecutorial orders, officers searched his apartment and other premises he uses.
During the search, police say, they found several boxes holding about one million tablets. These are medicines and substances on the official list of controlled psychoactive substances, which means their distribution is subject to strict oversight and a special dispensing regime.
What else was seized during the search?
Alongside the tablets, police seized around 5,000 boxes of cigarettes of various brands. According to the same account, the cigarettes had been prepared for resale outside the legally prescribed system, with no excise duties paid and no control stamps.
Excise goods, which include cigarettes and tobacco products, fall under a separate tax regime. The state treats the trade of such goods outside legal channels as a distinct offense, independent of the charge tied to psychoactive substances. That is why the suspect in this case faces two grounds for prosecution.
The combination of a large quantity of tablets and a sizable stock of cigarettes suggests, in the view of investigators, that the goods were intended for distribution rather than personal use. The exact route by which the goods reached the premises where they were found will be the subject of further inquiry.
How does the case proceed after the arrest?
The suspect was placed in police custody for up to 48 hours. Within that period, together with a criminal complaint, he is to be brought before and questioned by the competent prosecutor.
The criminal complaint was filed with the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Zrenjanin. Based on the evidence gathered, the prosecution will decide on further measures, including a possible request for detention. Until the proceedings conclude, the suspect is presumed innocent, and all allegations have yet to be confirmed by a court.
The investigation will seek to establish whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a wider network, and whether the tablets were intended for the domestic market or onward shipment. The large number of seized tablets raises questions about the origin of the goods and the channel through which they arrived.
In your view, how much do seizures like this affect the fight against the illegal market in medicines and cigarettes?
