Vučić accused of interfering in organised crime probe after major drug seizure

Оpposition party Srbija centar (SRCE) has accused president Aleksandar Vučić of interfering in an independent investigation into a major drug trafficking case linked to local figures from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Kruševac.

The accusations follow the seizure of five tonnes of marijuana and the arrest of several suspects, including an SNS municipal official, in an operation led by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime.

SRCE said Vučić was attempting to contain political fallout through appearances on pro-government television, alleging he overstepped his constitutional authority by commenting on the case.

“The attempt to relativise and divert the course of the Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime investigation into the largest drug seizure in this region, by claiming that perhaps the father – an SNS councillor and financier – didn’t know about the drugs but only the son did, represents a serious overstepping of authority and a violation of the law and the Constitution, which clearly define the competences of the president,” the party said in a statement.

SRCE added that such moves would not ease the president’s political future but would instead raise further questions about responsibility.

“This is not the first time Vučić has done this, as he interfered in the same way in the investigation into the tragedy following the collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad”, the statement said. The party commented that Vučić once again attempted to trivialise the most important state issues, such as the clear message from Brussels that amendments to judicial laws could halt Serbia on its path towards the EU.

“Only in that field does his team achieve notable results. How many more such ‘SNS protégés’ are there across Serbia, like those arrested in Konjuh? Five tonnes of marijuana is not the same as five or 50 kilograms — transport, storage and distribution clearly passed ‘under the radar’ of the competent services, or were organised and permitted by them,” SRCE stated.

SRCE presents itself as a pro-European opposition force and has frequently accused the government of undermining institutions and the rule of law, while EU officials have repeatedly warned Belgrade about fight against organised crime and judicial reforms as part of Serbia’s accession path.

A day earlier, Democratic Party (DS) leader Srđan Milivojević, speaking about the seizure near Kruševac, said the arrested SNS councillor “was only a warehouse keeper for the drugs” and accused Vučić of being aware of the operation.

“Behind this operation stands someone much more powerful and someone who organises it better (…) In this country it is impossible to smuggle five kilograms of coffee without the leader of this criminal clan, better known to the public as Aleksandar Vučić, knowing about it,” Milivojević said.

He added that the scale of the operation suggested it could not have been handled solely at local level, with Kruševac used as a transit and storage hub.

Case details

The Prosecutor’s office for organised crime, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry’s anti-drug unit, ordered the arrest on Thursday of three people near Kruševac. The leaders of the Democratic Party and the People’s Movement of Serbia said on Friday that the one of the arrested with initials R.S. is an SNS official in Kruševac and close to Defence Minister Bratislav Gašić.

Police found five tonnes of marijuana in a warehouse belonging to the company “Florakom” in the village, along with four automatic rifles, one rocket launcher, and more than 1.5 million dinars in cash.

“This organised criminal group stored the narcotic drug marijuana on the premises of the company Florakom Ltd, from where it was distributed across the territory of the city of Belgrade for sale. The estimated street market value is around €50 million. Scales, vacuum machines and packaging bags were found in the warehouse,” the prosecution said.

Caption: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic talks during a joint press conference with the Georgian president following their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, 18 December 2025. The Georgian president is on an official visit to Serbia. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC