cocaine seizures Serbia — Recent drug seizures involving Serbian actors have triggered significant political and economic fallout in Serbia, according to commentary by Predrag Popović. Italian police intercepted a shipment of cocaine worth €250 million on July 21, 2026, with packages marked by the Serbian flag. Just two days later, authorities in Liberia seized 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €1.2 billion, arresting Srđan Seleš, known as Pitbul, who reportedly held a Serbian diplomatic passport and was described as an operative of the SNS party.

Popović argues that these high-profile busts have dealt a severe financial blow to what he calls the “Vučić cartel”, referencing the network allegedly led by Aleksandar Vučić. The loss of revenue from narcotics trafficking, combined with a reported deficit of €840 million in Serbia’s national budget for the first half of the year, has left public finances strained. In Belgrade, the city budget reportedly lacks the €50 million previously allocated for a failed tender to purchase 60 trolleybuses.

Drug routes disrupted and political consequences

The seizures in Italy and Liberia are described as part of a broader crackdown on Balkan drug trafficking networks. Italian authorities found over 770 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a refrigerated container labeled as bananas from Ecuador, with 250 of the 650 packages bearing Serbian flags—suggesting the shipment was intended for a Serbian criminal group. In Liberia, local police, reportedly assisted by US DEA agents, arrested two traffickers, one of whom was identified by media as Srđan Seleš. Several senior Liberian police and intelligence officials were also detained on suspicion of aiding the smuggling operation.

Popović claims that the disruption of these trafficking routes has led to a loss of over €1.5 billion for the network he alleges is tied to Vučić. He further asserts that the resulting financial shortfall has undermined both criminal and official operations, with business partners increasingly withdrawing from deals with Serbian national and city authorities. The commentary suggests that the failure of major infrastructure projects, such as the planned EXPO investment, is linked to these developments.

While these allegations have not been independently verified, the seizures and arrests have intensified scrutiny of Serbia’s political and economic stability, especially as the country enters a new election campaign period.