A 39-year-old man in Zagreb was accused of extorting €10,000 from a 50-year-old victim while threatening him over a non-existent debt, stemming from a drug deal proposal.
The Zagreb police have arrested a 39-year-old man suspected of extortion after allegedly convincing a 50-year-old victim to sell drugs instead of providing a loan. During a criminal investigation, it was revealed that over the span of three years, the accused threatened the victim with death and demanded payments totaling €10,000 for what he claimed was a debt, despite the absence of any actual loan arrangement.
The investigation uncovered that in early spring 2022, when the victim requested a loan of €3,000, the suspect offered him a vacuum-sealed package containing about 50 grams of cocaine instead. Under threat from the accused, the victim was instructed to sell the drug within a specific timeframe and return the proceeds to the suspect, constituting a coercive drug transaction rather than a legitimate financial loan.
Despite the victim's refusal to engage in the drug trade and his attempt to return the drug package, the suspect continued to pressure him, falsely accusing him of debt. This case highlights the intersection of drug-related crime and extortion, reflecting growing concerns over criminal methods used to exploit individuals in financial distress within the community.
