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Organized crime in North Macedonia

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Organized crime in North Macedonia
Founded1990s
Founding locationNorth Macedonia
ActivitiesDrug trafficking, Cigarette smuggling, Assassination, Contract killing, Police corruption, Political corruption, Human trafficking.

Organized crime in North Macedonia refers to criminal activities carried out by illegal gangs and criminal organizations operating within the country and internationally. These groups engage in a wide range of illicit activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling, corruption, and money laundering.

The main collaborators of Macedonian criminal groups are those from neighboring countries, such as the Serbian, Bulgarian, and Albanian mafias. Macedonian criminal organizations also cooperate with Italian and Russian crime groups.[1][2]

History

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The history of organized crime in North Macedonia is deeply intertwined with the country's political and economic transitions following its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. During the Socialist era, the country was relatively insulated from organized crime due to the strict government control and central planning. However, after gaining independence, North Macedonia faced significant instability, which created a fertile ground for criminal activity. The breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent regional conflicts left a power vacuum, and organized crime syndicates quickly took advantage of the weak state institutions and porous borders.[3]

In the 1990s, as the country transitioned from a socialist system to a market economy, North Macedonia became a key transit point for illicit activities, including drug trafficking and arms smuggling. The rise of corruption and the absence of strong law enforcement allowed criminal groups to flourish. These groups initially operated on a local level but gradually began establishing links with criminal networks in neighboring countries, such as Serbia, Albania, and Bulgaria. This marked the beginning of the country's involvement in transnational organized crime.[4][5]

By the early 2000s, Macedonian criminal organizations were deeply entrenched in the global drug trade, especially the trafficking of heroin and cocaine from the Balkans to Western Europe. The influence of international crime groups, particularly those from Russia and Italy, further expanded their reach, often through cooperation with local groups. These alliances allowed Macedonian criminals to smuggle illicit goods and launder money on a much larger scale.[6]

The government of North Macedonia has made several efforts over the years to combat organized crime, including establishing stronger ties with international law enforcement agencies like Europol and Interpol. However, the country continues to face significant challenges, with corruption, political instability, and a weak judiciary hindering progress. Organized crime remains a major concern for North Macedonia, not only in terms of its impact on the economy and society but also in relation to the country's ongoing efforts to join the European Union.[7][8]

Today, organized crime in North Macedonia is characterized by sophisticated networks involved in a range of illicit activities, from drug trafficking and human trafficking to money laundering and cybercrime. The legacy of past conflicts and the continued influence of international criminal organizations ensure that the battle against organized crime remains an ongoing struggle for the Macedonian state.[9]

Notable crime groups

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  • Gang from Grcec (банда од Грчец): A criminal group specialized in transporting cocaine from South America to Europe and North Macedonia, and involved in murders and revenge killings.[10]
  • Duqandzik gang (Дуќанџик банда): A criminal group that supplied most of Skopje with cocaine and other drugs for a long time, as well as usury and racketeering bars for a certain period.[11][12]
  • Belanoca gang (Беланоца банда): Known as the largest loan shark group in Skopje, there were racketeering and drug influences surrounding its members.[13]
  • Frankfurt mafia (Франкфурт Мафија): Crime group from Veles, involved in the heroin trade in Frankfurt, Germany, and Vienna, Austria.[14]
  • Gang from Kondovo (банда од Кондово): The occupation of this crime group was particularly racketeering and usury, and it was also recognized as a politically protected group.[15]
  • Baron criminal group (Барон криминална група): Considered the newest crime group among the others in the city of Skopje, its allegedly composed of members of extremist movements.[16]

Notable North Macedonian criminals

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  • Bajrush Sejdiu (Бајруш Сејдиу): Among the most notorious tobacco smugglers in the country, and member of the Kumanovo underworld.[17]
  • Rade Trajkovski Shtekli (Раде Трајковски Штекли): A prominent figure in the Skopje underworld and important drug trafficker in the country.[18]
  • Orhan Bajrami Oki (Орхан Бајрами Оки): One of the most powerful criminals of the country and head of the Duqandzik gang. He was killed in 2023.[19]
  • Celal Ajeti Xeljo (Џелал Ајети Џељо): Known as the biggest moneylender in the Skopje underworld. He was killed in 2013.[20]
  • Orce Korunovski (Орце Коруновски): A mysterious figure from the Skopje underworld with very close relations with businessmen and politicians. Killed in 2002.[21]
  • Cheval Mouaremi (Шеваљ Муареми): Known as the head of the gang from Grcec, and heavily active in the drug trafficking. He was reportedly living in Dubai, UAE, until his arrest in this city in 2024.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jovanovska, Sllobodanka (2011-11-15). "Се затвора мрежата околу балканските криминалци кои се во бегство". Balkan Insight (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  2. ^ "Уапсен мулти-криминалец во Италија е баран и од македонската полиција". Фактор Портал. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  3. ^ "ЖАРИШТА НА ОРГАНИЗИРАН КРИМИНАЛ НА ЗАПАДЕН БАЛКАН" (PDF) (in Macedonian).
  4. ^ "Пресметка меѓу двете криминални банди Дуќанџик и Барон: Едно лице убиено, подметнат пожар во кафуле" (in Macedonian). 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  5. ^ "Криминалци од Балканот ИНВЕСТИРААТ ВО МАРИХУАНА ВО МАКЕДОНИЈА". Весник - проверено. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  6. ^ "Три македонски банди го држат црниот пазар со дрога". Радио Слободна Европа (in Macedonian). 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  7. ^ "Жариштата на организираниот криминал во Македонија – DW – 21.05.2019". dw.com (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  8. ^ Насловна-2 (2023-05-10). "Грчката полиција во соработка со македонската разби меѓународна мрежа за трговија со дрога – запленети над 100 килограми кокаин". Реален Медиум за Реални Луѓе - Македонски Медиа Сервис (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ БИРН (2023-09-05). "Мафијашките пресметки фрлија светло врз криминалното подземје". Призма (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  10. ^ "МВР објави детали за меѓународните потерници за осуммина членови на криминална банда" (in Macedonian). 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  11. ^ Леонардо (2023-03-17). "Како "Дуќанџик", "Беланоца" и другите семејни кланови и нарко-картели влегоа во крвава војна до истребување?!". Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  12. ^ Скопје1.мк (2023-09-05). "Која криминална банда владее во Македонија: "Дуќанџиќ" ја изгуби моќта со последните убиства, но и ривалската "Беланоца", чиј лидер е во притвор, пишува Фокус - Скопје1.мк" (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "За осум убиства приведени осомничени од криминалната банда "Беланоца"". Радио Слободна Европа (in Macedonian). 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  14. ^ Макфакс++ (2011-02-12). "Приведени уште пет лица од "Франкфуртската мафија"". МАКФАКС (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  15. ^ NetPress (2019-05-22). "Kриминалните групи од Арачиново, Кондово и Грчец уживаат политичка заштита". NetPress (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  16. ^ Редакција (2024-12-17). ""Разбиена" криминалната група "Барон": За убиство наплаќала од 10.000 до 250.000 евра". еМагазин (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  17. ^ "КОД: Бајруш Сејдиу си го бара конфискуваниот имот, тврди дека државата го претерала со пресметката | Телма" (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  18. ^ NetPress (2025-01-18). "Уапсен Раде Штекли". NetPress (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  19. ^ Popovski, Nikola (2024-01-12). "Расчистено убиството на Оки во Ханиоти, грчката полиција тврди дека убиецот е во притвор во Македонија". Локално (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  20. ^ "Зошто го убија Џељо: Му должеле пари, поради пресметка на бандите или поради крвна одмазда?". tocka.com.mk (in Macedonian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  21. ^ Цветков, Спас (2010-01-04). "Влезе в сила доживотната присъда за убиеца на македонеца Орце Коруновски, разстрелян във Варна през 2002 година". www.dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  22. ^ плусинфо (2024-04-07). "ШЕВАЉ МУАРЕМИ Е УАПСЕН ВО ДУБАИ Лидер е на групата од Грчец". plusinfo.mk. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
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