Regarding the incident that occurred on 7 October 2026, at approximately 20:25, on “Crnogorska” Street in Skopje, police officers had set up an ambush targeting a BMW passenger vehicle with Skopje registration plates, following previously obtained operational intelligence indicating that a criminal offence under Article 215 of the Criminal Code, involving the sale and purchase of marijuana, was about to take place.
Acting on this intelligence, police officers immediately took appropriate measures and signalled the BMW vehicle to stop. As the officers approached the vehicle to identify and search its occupants, the driver started the vehicle and struck a utility pole. At the same moment, he threw a bag containing marijuana out of the window.
One of the police officers then drew his service pistol and, from the passenger side of the vehicle, through the partially open window, ordered the occupants to stop, shouting, “Stop! Police!” At that point, the person in the passenger seat seized the officer’s service pistol, while the driver started the vehicle and fled the scene.
Police officers positioned nearby pursued the vehicle, which was travelling at high speed along “Gjorche Petrov” Street towards the Skopje–Tetovo motorway, disregarding the officers’ audible and visual signals to stop. During the pursuit, one police officer also fired three warning shots into the air.
At one point, the BMW struck a motorway guardrail and spun around, after which the driver, P.A. (24), and the passenger, E.P. (21), exited the vehicle. Both individuals were arrested, the service pistol was recovered, and a subsequent search of the area led to the discovery of a bag containing marijuana.
In coordination with the Skopje Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Violent Crime Unit within the Skopje Sector for Internal Affairs (SIA Skopje) today (14 October 2026) filed criminal charges with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office against E.P. and P.A. for the criminal offences of “obstructing an official in the performance of official duties”, under Article 382 of the Criminal Code, and “unauthorized production and distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors”, under Article 215 of the Criminal Code.
Criminal charges were also filed against M.T., who, according to available intelligence, is believed to be connected to the case, for the criminal offence of “unauthorized production and distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors”, under Article 215 of the Criminal Code.
The Ministry of Interior’s Department for Internal Control, Criminal Investigations and Professional Standards has also been notified of the incident and is undertaking measures and activities to examine any potential irregularities in the conduct of the police officers involved in this case.