Minister Gasic on record marijuana bust: No one can hide behind a party membership card

In a statement carried by the media, Gasic said that the record narcotics seizure in the village of Konjuh demonstrates that “anyone who believes they can hide behind a party membership card to commit crimes – will not succeed.”

“Anyone involved in criminal activity will face the strictest punishment and be prosecuted in accordance with the law. The fight against crime and corruption is an absolute priority for the state. It is being conducted decisively, without compromise, and without exception - just as it is in any serious state,” Gasic said.

The Minister also noted that certain unnamed individuals were “quick to politicize this large-scale and professionally executed operation” in an attempt to “score cheap political points.”

“Such attacks stem from their own corrupt nature and history of crime during their time in power. Instead, the responsible thing to do would be to congratulate and recognize the police and security services for one of the largest operations in the modern history of the Serbian police,” Gasic said.

Minister Gasic’s remarks follow a claim by Miroslav Aleksic, leader of the opposition People’s Movement of Serbia (NPS), that one of those arrested in the raid is Rade Spasojevic, a local councilor for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).