Macedonia's Interior Ministry helps France seize 68 kilograms of cocaine in a truck, a 44-year-old Macedonian citizen detained

The Macedonian Ministry of Interior announced on October 26 that, following operational information from its unit for illicit drug trafficking, 68 kilograms of cocaine were seized in France. The drugs were found in a cargo vehicle at the Fontaine toll station, and the vehicle was driven by a 44-year-old Macedonian citizen, who was detained.

The information, according to the ministry, was delivered to French authorities through the Sector for International Police Cooperation and Europol. That means the operation is the result of cooperation between Macedonian and French police, and the seizure was carried out by French authorities. The reports paraphrase the ministry's information and do not quote an official directly.

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This is the second successful international operation in the past month. Earlier, 324 kilograms of marijuana were seized in cooperation with Greek police. The two operations show that Macedonian police are increasingly involved in international exchange of information on drug trafficking.

What is not known? The source does not state when exactly the seizure took place, or the suspect's name, nor the route the vehicle was taking and where it was meant to arrive. It is also unclear where the cocaine comes from and who it was intended for. There is no information about charges, court proceedings or custody. It is also not known whether others are involved in the case.

What does the presumption of innocence mean? The driver has been detained, which does not mean he is guilty. Whether he knew about the load, whether he is only a carrier or part of a larger network, will be determined by French authorities and the court. We therefore refrain from any conclusions about his role.

How significant is the seizure? 68 kilograms of cocaine is a significant quantity for a single truck, but the sources give no value or price of the drugs, so we state no figure. It is also not known how much cocaine in total has been seized on this route in recent years.

What is not known? It is not known what charges await the suspect, or whether the Macedonian ministry has additional information about the network. It is also not known whether new operations with French or other European authorities will follow.

What does it mean? The case shows that information exchange through Europol yields results. Whether it leads to dismantling the whole network depends on the investigation in France.

MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 27, 2026