Serbian daily Novosti reports that criminals from this country are investing in cannabis growing in Macedonia, following the call from Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to develop this recently legalized crop.

Without naming names, the paper quotes Serbian intelligence source saying that at least five people from the underworld in this country have entered the cannabis growing business in Macedonia, one of them pouring in tens of millions of euros. According to the law, which was promoted by Zaev whose family businesses have also rushed into cannabis growing, it is legal to produce oil from the plant for medicinal purposes. The Balkans are a major producer of marijuana used for smoking as well, which is smuggled into the European Union countries, and it is feared that cannabis oil legalization will lead to illegal smuggling.

No matter what the lawmakers thought to do, the criminals will be the first to react, Novosti writes.

According to the paper, some of the Serbian mobsters who have entered into marijuana growing in Macedonia are actually behind bars, but that is not stopping them from expanding their business. The only requirement is finding local people with no criminal records and appoint them as nominal company owners.