The Zelen Cartel is a transnational criminal syndicate operating out of the lawless Valkari States, specifically the border city of Zelen. It is the primary supplier of illegal narcotics to the Divine Republic of Kresimiria.
The cartel rose to infamy in the 2010s by shifting its focus from general smuggling to the industrial-scale manufacture of synthetic opioids. This flood of cheap, potent drugs precipitated the “Lower Kambel Addiction Crisis” in Sinj, directly leading to the passage of the 2023 Harm Reduction Act.
The organization is considered a top-tier national security threat by the Council for Internal Affairs (CIA). It operates with near-impunity within the fractured political landscape of Valkaristan, using bribery and paramilitary force to control the border regions adjacent to Decelska and Zahodecelska.
History
Origins (1998–2010)
The cartel emerged from the chaos of the Valkari Warlord Era. In the late 1990s, former imperial militia commander Viktor Zelenko seized control of the town of Zelen, located strategically near the Kresimirian border. Initially, the group focused on smuggling cigarettes, fuel, and people across the “Soft Border” into District IX.
The Synthetic Turn (2010–Present)
Following Viktor’s death in 2010, his son Andrej Zelenko (known as “The Alchemist”) took control. Andrej, a former chemistry student who dropped out of a university in Kruhlstutt, pivoted the organization toward synthetic drugs.
Unlike organic narcotics which require vast fields, synthetic opioids could be produced in underground labs within Zelen, protected by the cartel’s private army. By 2015, the cartel was mass-producing “V-Dust” (a potent fentanyl analogue).
Operations
The Supply Chain
The cartel utilizes the unique geography of the South-West Fracture.
- Production: Precursor chemicals are imported legally into the Kingdom of Kruhlstutt, smuggled through the porous Valkari borders, and processed in Zelen.
- Distribution: The finished product is trafficked into Kresimiria. The cartel uses drones to drop packages over the border fences of District IX or smuggles them via the commercial trucking routes through District VIII, often hiding contraband in shipments of steel or timber.
The “Grey Alliance”
Intelligence reports suggest a transactional relationship between the Zelen Cartel and the terrorist group AFIM.
- Guns for Safe Passage: The cartel reportedly supplies AFIM with modern weaponry and explosives (smuggled from the Valkari arms bazaars) in exchange for safe passage through AFIM-controlled smuggling tunnels in southern District X.
Impact on Kresimiria
The influx of Zelen-manufactured opioids caused a public health catastrophe in the early 2020s.
- The Overdose Spike: Between 2019 and 2022, overdose deaths in Sinj rose by 400%. The crisis overwhelmed the Council for Health’s emergency services.
- Political Fallout: The inability of the Civil Order Force to interdict the supply led to a shift in government policy. Recognizing that the border could not be fully sealed against such small, high-value shipments, Senator Adnan Sitar successfully argued for the decriminalization measures found in the 2023 Harm Reduction Act to mitigate the damage.
Counter-Measures
The Kresimirian state is engaged in a low-intensity conflict with the cartel.
- The Narcotics Interdiction Unit: A specialized branch of the COF stationed in Kromine. They utilize YakaSys surveillance tech to track dealer networks back to the border.
- Cross-Border Raids: In 2021, Kresimirian special forces conducted an unauthorized raid into Zelen, destroying a major laboratory. The Volkovo Directorate (the nominal government of Valkaristan) lodged a formal protest, but the cartel simply rebuilt the facility underground.