Two police officers in Serbia, Slobodan Milenkovic and Dusan Mitic, have been removed from their positions after uncovering a “state-protected” drug farm.
The two officers discovered the “Jovanjica” illegal cannabis production farm in 2019, which was allegedly protected by state security officials.
Milenkovic has been removed from his position as head of the Belgrade Police Department in the fight against drugs, and Mitic is no longer the head of operations in the same department.
“By a formal decision of… the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they were assigned to other positions outside the Department for the fight against drugs. The decision… represents, first of all, a direct prevention of further investigation and verification of operational findings that lead the ‘Jovanjica’ project to the centers of power in our country,” read the press release.
“This shift is both revenge against the police officers and pressure before the upcoming testimony,” it continued.
Milenkovic is set to testify for the case on September 15.
The dismissal of the officers has also been described as “a message that whoever does not accept the lies of the power centers loses his professional and personal security and receives public accusations, insults, discredits, parliamentary and tabloid harassment.”
Lawyers for the two men said they will take all legal means before domestic and international institutions.”
Police officers raided the “state-protected” drug farm in 2019, and seized more than 660 kilograms of dried cannabis during their searches.
Two indictments have been raised in relation to the farm. The “Jovanjica 1” case, currently being tried, refers to illegal marijuana production. The “Jovanjica 2” case deals with alleged state security links to the farm.
The alleged owner of the farm, Predrag Koluvija, stands as the first accused in both indictments. Both cases allege Koluvija is the organiser of a criminal group, which reportedly received support from at least five members of the police, military and security services.
These individuals supplied Koluvija with a fake police badge and license plates, insider information, and security guards for the farm.
Proceedings for “Jovanjica 2,” in which the police officers are being charged, have not yet begun. The court panel has not held a preliminary hearing over the past two years.
Both Milenkovic and Mitic are testifying in the case against Koluvija, as well as against the rest of the group involved in the illegal marijuana production.
Both men have become a target of pro-government media in recent years. Several state officials have gone as far as to accuse them of being “criminals.”
Image via Wikimedia
