Police arrest 11 in Balkan cocaine smuggling operation linked to Pink Panthers

Police in the Balkans arrested 11 alleged members of a criminal syndicate involved in smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe. Among those arrested is a suspect linked to the "Pink Panthers" jewel heist gang. The arrests occurred during raids in Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia, where police seized weapons, luxury cars, and cash. The cocaine smuggling operation is connected to a previous seizure of over 500 kilograms of cocaine in Croatia in 2021. Recent months have seen increased activity from Balkan cartels in drug trafficking, with significant arrests and seizures reported across Europe. Authorities believe these groups are responsible for supplying a large portion of cocaine in the region.