Brno, July 20 (CTK) – Customs officers uncovered a Vietnamese gang dealing in marihuana in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany, seizing 45 kilogrammes of the drug in a raid held last Tuesday alone, Jiri Bartak, spokesman for the Czech Customs Administration, told journalists yesterday.
If convicted, the four main masterminds of the crime will face up to 18 years in prison, Bartak said.
The 45 kilogrammes of the drug were prepared for shipment abroad, he added.
In connection with the case, the fifth man is being prosecuted in Slovakia. The Czech Republic has asked for his extradition.
The customs officers uncovered three cannabis labs in Brno. Along with 45 kilogrammes of marihuana, worth roughly 4.5 million crowns, they also seized 420 cannabis plants.
Slovak customs officers warned the Czech Customs Anti-Drug Unit of the gang last October when they seized a consignment of 9.5 kilogrammes of marihuana from the Czech Republic, Bartak said.
This March, the customs officers in Germany confiscated another 15 kilogrammes of marihuana, he added.
The investigation has found out that the Vietnamese were operating the facilities in which they were growing the cannabis, from which they were producing marihuana, he added.
They were then delivering the marihuana to the drug market not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Slovakia and Germany, Bartak said.
The four main suspects were taken into custody, he added.
“The investigation continues. The number of the detained and prosecuted persons may still increase,” state attorney Eva Zdarska has told journalists.
She said the four main organisers of the deals were earning tremendous sums thanks to the sale of the marihuana.
“They lived a luxurious life, driving the most luxurious cars, making it no secret that they have enough money,” Zdarska said.
($1=24.843 crowns)
