The Hungarian Rapid Response Police National Bureau of Investigation said on the police.hu website on Tuesday that efforts had been under way for several years “to fight the distribution of a popular Slovak drug informally known as piko”.

“The production of methamphetamine under the name Pervitin has a tradition going back to many decades in Slovakia, with the drug being supplied to neighbouring countries including Hungary,” it said.

Fully ten people were taken in custody in a joint operation involving 90 officers in Győr, Tatabánya and Oroszlány last weekend, it added.

Investigators seized crytal meth, 8,000 euros and 1.5 million forints (EUR 3,800) in cash and equipment used in a drug lab producing Pervitin.

Simultaneously, police of the Slovak crime agency took action against five people and held house searches in western Slovakia. Hungarian police in Debrecen, Győr and Pécs took three people into custody and raided properties in seven locations on the second day of the operation.

Members of the counter-terrorism unit TEK were also involved because information had been received about three perpetrators storing guns in their homes.

In addition to drugs, a taser and five types of weapons were seized, including a sawn-off shotgun, a Zoraki pistol, a Mossberg pump-action shotgun and ammunition. 

Investigators in Győr have raised charges against a total of thirteen people suspected of drug dealing.

A 30-year-old Slovak citizen who allegedly headed the gang and his 25-year-old Hungarian female partner have been apprehended.