Nine people have been arrested in a major drug bust in Montenegro as part of an operation with the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and European Police.
Europol officers searched 15 locations within the Balkan country and made nine arrests of “High-Value Targets holding key positions” in the alleged drug operation.
The raids also included seizures of 22 firearms, 722 pieces of ammunition, 15 vehicles, 2 vessels, luxury watches, cash and documents.
“The targeted individuals were closely linked to various Montenegrin criminal cells active within a larger drug trafficking network spread across the Balkan region and beyond,” Iternpol said in a release.
“Some of the suspects allegedly belong to one of the most notorious and violent Montenegrin clans, while others are suspected of leading their own independent criminal groups.
“One of the suspects, the leader of this criminal group, is allegedly responsible for multiple murders carried out during gang wars.”
Four people have been charged while in prison, with another five allegedly on the run.
The investigation was launched after 1.8 tonnes of cocaine shipments were intercepted heading to Australia from Europe between 2020 and 2021.
Europol said the nine suspects were already known to law enforcement as they had previously appeared in drug trafficking investigations.
Western Balken criminal networks have increasingly targeted the Australian drug market as the proceeds of drug trafficking are significantly higher than the European market, according to Europol.
The supply route includes Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Southern Europe and Africa before reaching Australia, Europol also said.
One kilo of cocaine could reach more than $EU100,000 ($162,000) on the Australian black market, according to Europol.
The investigation worked in cooperation with Europol between the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police, the Montenegrin Special Police Division (Specialno Policijsko Odeljenje), and the United States Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA)
