Operation “Çistaç”: Interior Ministry reports 5,628 people arrested, 1,135 criminal charges and 1,158 searches

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MPB) today published the tally so far of its operation “Çistaç” (“The Cleaner”): according to official data, so far 5,628 people have been deprived of liberty, 1,135 criminal charges have been filed and 1,158 searches have been carried out.

As MIA reports, the operation is implemented through the Department of Criminal Police, in coordination with all internal affairs sectors and regional border centres across the country. The action aims at fighting violent crime, the illegal drug trade and cross-border crime.

The data were made public today, 5 October 2026 (MIA, 15:19).

The tally so far shows the wide scale of the police action across the whole territory of North Macedonia.