ZAGREB, December 20, 2018 - The MZLZ (Zagreb International Airport) company, which operates Zagreb Airport, is going to refinance its existing loan under more favourable conditions, so the Croatian government authorised Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butković to sign a contract with the concession-holder whereby Zagreb is greenlighting the refinancing.

The MZLZ, that is the concession-holder, cannot amend or in any way change the financing agreement or conclude a new financing agreement without the government's prior approval, Minister Butković said.

The prerequisites have been created for the refinancing of the current loan and that will enable the further stabilisation of the project as well as pave the way for further investments in the enlargement of the existing passenger terminal.

Under the concession agreement, the state, which awarded this concession to the MZLZ, was entitled to 33% of any profit coming from the refinancing.

Thus, the state can count on 7 million euro and, according to Butković, an instalment of four million euro will be paid into the state budget upon the transfer of the borrowed money. The remaining three million euro, which will also be paid into the state budget, is to be used for upgrading the terminal and other airport facilities.

MZLZ Jsc is a company registered in Croatia with six shareholders: Aeroports de Paris Management – 20.77% Bouygues Batiment International – 20.77%, Fond Marguerite – 20.77%, IFC – 17.58%, TAV Airports – 15.0% and Viadukt d.d. – 5.11%.

The airport is owned by the Croatian government (55%), the City of Zagreb (35%), Zagreb County, and the Town of Velika Gorica, each with 5%.

More news on the Zagreb airport can be found in our Travel section.

On Thursday, Zagreb Airport welcomed their 3 millionth passenger this year, which came 34 days earlier than last year. 

Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik Airports have continued with great results in October.

According to a statement issued by USKOK (Office for Suppressing Corruption and Organised Crime), one American and one Nigerian were arrested in Zagreb for cocaine smuggling, reports Index.hr on November 1, 2018.

In the period from mid-September to 30 October, the two of them were associated with several persons from abroad for the purpose of purchasing, transporting and smuggling cocaine into Croatia. According to USKOK, their intention was to use the cocaine to pay for a large quantity of firearms and ammunition in the territory of Croatia.

Following the instructions of organisers and other members of the criminal organization, the two men purchased the cocaine in the African state of Mali and hid it in a jet plane owned by a company whose business operations are run by the arrested American. Then they used the plane to bring the cocaine from Mali from Zagreb.

During the search of the aircraft, a kilogram of high-quality cocaine was found, said the USKOK, adding that the prosecutors have proposed to the investigating judge of the Zagreb County Court to detain the two drug smugglers during the investigation.

The police releases footage of cocaine found in the plane

This morning, the police announced further details about the operation, as well as video footage from the plane. “Police officers of the National Police Office for Suppressing Corruption and Organised Crime, in coordination with the Office for Suppressing Corruption and Organised Crime, have completed the criminal investigation operation called Nexus, aimed at suppressing international drugs and weapons trade.

During the criminal investigation, a 56-year-old United States citizen and a 55-year-old Nigerian citizen were arrested on Tuesday at the Zagreb international airport. They arrived at the Zagreb airport in an airplane owned by the 56-year-old American, who also operated the plane, while the 55-year-old Nigerian was a co-pilot.

Based on a warrant issued by the competent court, police officers searched the aircraft and found a package with more than one kilogram of high-quality cocaine, more precisely 1,190 grams of cocaine. It is suspected that the two men were joined by organisers into a criminal organization in order to, in accordance with their instructions, acquire cocaine in Mali and bring it to Zagreb, where it was supposed to be exchanged for a large quantity of firearms and ammunition.

At the end of the criminal investigation against the two men, criminal charges have been filed with the USKOK for suspicion of committing a criminal offense as part of a criminal association with regard to unauthorized production and trafficking of drugs,” the police said.

For more stories about crime in Croatia, click here.

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