English
Since September 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs—through the Criminal Police Department and in coordination and cooperation with all Sectors for Internal Affairs and Regional Centers for Border Affairs—has been conducting Operation “Sweeper” across the entire territory of Macedonia.
The operation aims to detect, monitor, and clarify situations and socially deviant phenomena, as well as to uncover and suppress criminal offenses related to violent crime, illicit drug trafficking, and cross-border crime.
Since the start of Operation “Sweeper,” police officers have verified the identities of 74,229 individuals and conducted 158,955 checks on persons, vehicles, and luggage. As part of the measures and activities undertaken, a total of 5,628 individuals have been detained, 1,158 searches of homes and other premises have been carried out, and 1,135 criminal charges have been filed.
Of the total number of criminal charges, 88 relate to violent crimes, while 1,047 relate to offenses involving illicit drug trafficking. During the operation, significant quantities of various types of narcotic drugs were seized—including marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, heroin, hashish, and MDMA tablets—along with weapons, cash, multiple passenger vehicles, and mobile phones.
Detention measures have been ordered for the perpetrators in accordance with legal procedures and the decisions of competent authorities, and prison sentences have been imposed in some cases.
As part of the activities undertaken under Operation “Sweeper, several international illicit drug trafficking channels were disrupted, particularly at the Tabanovce, Deve Bair, and Star Dojran border crossings. The activities carried out and the results achieved under Operation “Sweeper” demonstrate a significant improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of detection efforts by police officers across all Sectors for Internal Affairs and Regional Centers for Border Affairs.