Balgarianovinite.com The scandal over the seizure of 5 tonnes of marijuana in Serbia, believed to have originated in North Macedonia, has sparked numerous reactions in Skopje. The prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation, and the police have carried out a large-scale operation in the capital and Strumica, the results of which have not yet been officially announced. In an interview with state television, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced that he expects the police to confiscate dozens of tonnes of marijuana, calling the situation a “serious case” for which he blamed the previous government of the SDSM and DUI.
“This was, in fact, the economic policy of the SDSM and DUI government. Citizens will witness a very difficult and painful situation unfolding. What they will hear and see these days will be truly catastrophic, and all the creators of these policies must be held accountable for the many young people who, unfortunately, have fallen victim to these policies from the past,” said Mickoski.
Political reactions from various parties were not far behind.
The opposition SDSM asked why there was still no answer to “how 5 tonnes of drugs crossed North Macedonia’s border,” “who will take responsibility for this cartel scandal and who in the government is involved,” because “it is clear to everyone that without the support of structures in the government, the Ministry of Interior, and customs, it is impossible for 5 tonnes of drugs to be smuggled across the border.”
In response to Mickoski’s words, the SDSM described the police operation as “a media campaign with cannabis confiscations and attempts by the government to divert attention from the main issue.” “This is a big farce, and if it is about legal cannabis, it could open up a new problem. What are the facts? The legal basis for the production of medical cannabis in [North] Macedonia was created by the VMRO-DPMNE and Nikola Gruevski with amendments to the law on February 9, 2016. The first license to grow medical cannabis in [North] Macedonia was issued in February 2017 during the VMRO-DPMNE era. Cannabis production began in May 2017. If legal quantities are confiscated solely because of their media campaign and sensationalism, the State may have to pay compensation. Therefore, this witch hunt against companies is a farce, and the same is happening in Serbia. The whole campaign is again being carried out according to [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic’s recipe. Everything is copy-paste,” the SDSM statement said.
According to information from the government, out of 61 licenses issued for the cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes, there are actually 43 licensed companies operating in the country.
The smaller political parties have also come out with a position.
The Left leader Dimitar Apasiev wrote on Facebook that the production of medical cannabis should not be banned; it should be nationalized.
The VMRO-DPMNE’s coalition partner, the Democratic Union, requested that Parliament adopt amendments to the laws prohibiting the production of marijuana for medical purposes through an expedited procedure. “It is more than clear that control has failed, which is why there have been fake thefts, disputes between drug mafias, seizures of cannabis by the police, etc., but the criminal business continued because the drug mafia, which included holders of the highest state positions from the previous government, acquired enormous financial power and political influence,” the Democratic Union said in a statement.
Another small party, Edinstvena Macedonia, also issued a statement: “Granting licenses to private companies for supposedly medical purposes was a clever cover for altruistic motives, when in fact it was an extremely lucrative business worth millions of euro. For example, today the companies of [former prime minister] Zoran Zaev are the largest drug producers in several regions of the country.” The party is insisting on a change in legal regulation and that the State be the only entity in the legal trade, “which will grow and provide marijuana for the sick.” Politicians in Skopje React to Scandal with Serbia-Seized Marijuana from North Macedonia 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-06 19:13:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law