Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SKOPJE52
2008-01-22 16:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: HEROIN SEIZURE MAY PROVIDE LEADS TO
how-toVZCZCXRO7998 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSQ #0052 0221608 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 221608Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6927 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0160 RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 0069 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL RHMCSUU/FBI WASHDC RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3733
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000052
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL AND EUR/SCE PFEUFFER, DOJ FOR DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MK PGOV SNAR KCRM
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: HEROIN SEIZURE MAY PROVIDE LEADS TO
REGIONAL DRUG RING
REF: 2007 SKOPJE 21
SUMMARY
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000052
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL AND EUR/SCE PFEUFFER, DOJ FOR DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MK PGOV SNAR KCRM
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: HEROIN SEIZURE MAY PROVIDE LEADS TO
REGIONAL DRUG RING
REF: 2007 SKOPJE 21
SUMMARY
1. (SBU) Macedonian police arrested a Macedonian citizen
and seized 23.6 kilos of heroin during a traffic stop on the
Skopje-Tetovo highway on 15 January. The seizure stemmed
from a September 2007 investigation into an organized
drug-trafficking operation running drugs from Turkey through
Bulgaria and Macedonia to Albania, with the final destination
in the Western European market. Macedonian police are hoping
the arrest will provide them with important leads on the
operations of the regional drug-trafficking ring. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) Acting on information provided to both Macedonian
and Bulgarian police that a narcotics transfer was to occur
between January 13 and 16 in Macedonia, local police arrested
a Macedonian national driving on the Skopje-Tetovo highway on
January 15 and seized 23.6 kilos of heroin he was
transporting in his vehicle. According to MOI sources, the
high-quality heroin was concealed in 40 wax-sealed parcels.
The arrestee indicated to the police that he was directed to
transport the heroin to Albania, for which he would be paid
800 Euros. He is being held in a prison in Tetovo, where he
is awaiting trial.
3. (SBU) The seizure was part of an investigation begun in
September 2007 by the Macedonian Anti-Drug-Trafficking Sector
of the MOI's Organized Crime Department. Macedonian police
are coordinating with the Bulgarian police attach in Skopje
to trace the heroin deal to a ring suspected of operating out
of Turkey to transport narcotics through Bulgaria and
Macedonia into Albania. (Note: Several of the arresting
officers are recent graduates of the USG-funded International
Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, highlighting the
importance of continued USG law enforcement training provided
to the GoM. End Note.)
4. (SBU) Comment: Police sources indicated that the arrestee
provided information on his route and compensation, and are
hoping the arrest and seizure will lead to a key break in the
regional drug ring that has been under investigation since
September 2007. Building on Macedonia's success in
intercepting a shipment of nearly 500 kilos of cocaine
through Macedonia to Greece last year (reftel),this
operation further underscores the value of effective regional
cooperation in attacking large-scale narcotics trafficking
operations. End comment.
MILOVANOVIC
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL AND EUR/SCE PFEUFFER, DOJ FOR DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MK PGOV SNAR KCRM
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: HEROIN SEIZURE MAY PROVIDE LEADS TO
REGIONAL DRUG RING
REF: 2007 SKOPJE 21
SUMMARY
1. (SBU) Macedonian police arrested a Macedonian citizen
and seized 23.6 kilos of heroin during a traffic stop on the
Skopje-Tetovo highway on 15 January. The seizure stemmed
from a September 2007 investigation into an organized
drug-trafficking operation running drugs from Turkey through
Bulgaria and Macedonia to Albania, with the final destination
in the Western European market. Macedonian police are hoping
the arrest will provide them with important leads on the
operations of the regional drug-trafficking ring. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) Acting on information provided to both Macedonian
and Bulgarian police that a narcotics transfer was to occur
between January 13 and 16 in Macedonia, local police arrested
a Macedonian national driving on the Skopje-Tetovo highway on
January 15 and seized 23.6 kilos of heroin he was
transporting in his vehicle. According to MOI sources, the
high-quality heroin was concealed in 40 wax-sealed parcels.
The arrestee indicated to the police that he was directed to
transport the heroin to Albania, for which he would be paid
800 Euros. He is being held in a prison in Tetovo, where he
is awaiting trial.
3. (SBU) The seizure was part of an investigation begun in
September 2007 by the Macedonian Anti-Drug-Trafficking Sector
of the MOI's Organized Crime Department. Macedonian police
are coordinating with the Bulgarian police attach in Skopje
to trace the heroin deal to a ring suspected of operating out
of Turkey to transport narcotics through Bulgaria and
Macedonia into Albania. (Note: Several of the arresting
officers are recent graduates of the USG-funded International
Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, highlighting the
importance of continued USG law enforcement training provided
to the GoM. End Note.)
4. (SBU) Comment: Police sources indicated that the arrestee
provided information on his route and compensation, and are
hoping the arrest and seizure will lead to a key break in the
regional drug ring that has been under investigation since
September 2007. Building on Macedonia's success in
intercepting a shipment of nearly 500 kilos of cocaine
through Macedonia to Greece last year (reftel),this
operation further underscores the value of effective regional
cooperation in attacking large-scale narcotics trafficking
operations. End comment.
MILOVANOVIC