Authorities seize tons of chemicals in Central, Eastern Europe: Europol

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Authorities in Central and Eastern Europe have dismantled an international network producing and distributing synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine, the European law enforcement cooperation agency Europol said on Friday.

On Nov. 1, police in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova, supported by Europol, targeted the criminal network supplying key precursors for methamphetamine production, according to a statement.

The coordinated raids resulted in 16 arrests and 18 property searches across the region.

Authorities dismantled three clandestine labs in Hungary and Moldova, seizing methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, production equipment, vehicles, electronic devices, and cash.

Investigators said suspects were involved in all stages of the drug production chain, from importing chemicals to smuggling finished products in luggage and hidden vehicle compartments.

In a related operation, authorities in Hungary and Germany seized over 40 tons of precursor chemicals used to produce MDMA, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.

Europol said the precursors were shipped from China to the ports of Hamburg and Rotterdam before being transported to Hungary for distribution across Europe.

"The production and trafficking of synthetic drugs have increased over the past years, as both the demand and supply of synthetic drugs are high. This threat is expected to further escalate," the agency warned.