Fifty-one people have been arrested for conspiracy and the smuggling of narcotics in an international police operation, police representatives of Croatia and the Bosnian Serb entity told a news conference at the Police Directorate in Zagreb on Saturday.
Eleven Croatian citizens and two Serbian citizens have been arrested in Croatia, while one Croatian citizen is at large.
Croatia's anti-corruption office USKOK has launched an investigation into 15 people. The arrests have taken place in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Those arrested in Croatia were questioned at USKOK this morning.
"The investigating judge accepted USKOK's proposal in its entirety, setting detention for 12 arrestees," said USKOK deputy chief Slobodan Sasic.
The suspects were arrested in the Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Split area. The organisers of the criminal group were also arrested, one in Sarajevo and one in Dubrovnik on Friday.
The months-long operation code-named Gladius resulted in the seizure of 376 kg of marijuana, 523 grammes of heroin, as well as weapons. The value of the seized narcotics on the illegal market is estimated at about HRK 5.5 million (approx. 723,700 euros).
