Police: Police Impound Record Amount of Meth During Operation 'Vivaldi'

Prague, December 18 (TASR-correspondent) - Carrying out an anti-drug bust codenamed Vivaldi, police in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have impounded a record amount of methamphetamine worth almost €4 million, with members of the Czech Republic's National Anti-drug Centre (NPC) apprehending and pressing charges against six individuals, NPC director Jakub Frydrych and director of Slovakia's National Anti-drug Unit Milan Jonis reported at a joint press conference on Wednesday. TASR learnt the news from its special correspondent in Prague. "In total, there was 100 kg of methamphetamine and 32 kg of a drug used to produce this narcotic. In addition, there were five kg of cocaine, 25 kg of hashish, five bottles of iodine, equipment to cultivate cannabis, a hydraulic press used for pre-sale modification of the product, cash worth almost seven million Czech crowns (almost €280,000), two vehicles and two firearms," stated Frydrych. A key link within the organised group was a Slovak, who was supplying methamphetamine from Slovakia to the Czech Republic. Four defendants are being held in custody and could face 10-18 years in jail if found guilty. One of the defendants has died, while another one is being prosecuted at large, with a punishment of 2-10 years in jail hanging over him if found guilty. mf/df