Police: Eight Charged during Anti-drug Operation Medelin

Bratislava, 30 April (TASR) - Police have detained 12 people during an operation code-named Medelin aimed at dismantling an organised group suspected of drug-related criminal activity, spokesman for the Police Corps Presidium Roman Hajek told TASR on Thursday, adding that charges have been pressed against eight of the detained individuals. The operation was carried out by the National Anti-Drug Unit in close cooperation with detectives from the Regional Police Corps Directorate in Trencin. "Both units cooperated intensively on the case long term, and their operative and investigative activities resulted in a crackdown carried out in two consecutive phases," stated Hajek. The first phase took place in eastern Slovakia - in Presov, Kosice and Gelnica (Kosice region) - on 24 April, while the second phase followed in Puchov (Trencin region), Bratislava and the village of Pata (Nitra region) on Wednesday (29 April). "During the two raids, we seized a large quantity of various types of narcotic and psychotropic substances - cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana. Also seized were funds, mobile phones and other items needed to conduct criminal activities. Furthermore, cigarettes without tax stamps were seized in one of the family houses as well," stated Hajek. The organised group had been operating throughout Slovakia since at least the beginning of 2025. Of the twelve people detained, two are women. "The head of group was allegedly a man from Puchov, who had been convicted in the past as a high-ranking member of a criminal group known as Dvojicky (Twins)," said Hajek. "If found guilty, the perpetrators face prison sentences of seven to 15 years," said Hajek, adding that the scale and complexity of the operation required a large number of police officers from several Police Corps units. jrg/df