WADA says Serbian authorities catch criminal ring distributing banned substances worth over 27 crore

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Wednesday that Serbia’s authorities have broken up a criminal ring that was importing and distributing doping substances in the country.

WADA said in a statement that 10 members of the organised group have been arrested and 3,000 kilograms (6,614 pounds) of banned substances worth 3 million euros (USD 3.1 million, approximately INR 27.2 crore) seized alongside 100,000 euros (USD 104,000) in cash, cryptocurrency worth some 500,000 euros (USD 522,000), numerous properties, and seven websites used for online sales of the drugs.

Other seized items included luxury cars and watches.

The agency said the move in Serbia was a result of its program to increase anti-doping intelligence and investigation capacity throughout Europe which involves 48 countries.

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The investigation was carried out by the Anti-Doping Agency of Serbia, the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs and several other government authorities.

No more details about the case or the charges against the 10 arrested were given.

Gunter Younger, WADA’s director of intelligence and investigation, said the case “has proven what is possible when anti-doping organisations, law enforcement and governments proactively work together.”

The agency said a year ago more than 14,457 kilograms (31,872 pounds) of banned substances were seized as part of the project.