Police in the course of the "Snake's Eye" extended operation have busted an organised criminal group of 92 people - including 88 toll operators, their supervisors or deputies - who are suspected of illegally acquiring money with false fiscal receipts from toll booths on Corridor 10.

They are employees of Makedonija Pat company responsible for maintaining country's road network. So far, 87 suspects have been arrested and measures are taken to detain the rest.

Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska told a press conference on Thursday that criminal charges were filed against 92 people from Skopje, Veles, Kumanovo, Stip, Tetovo, Gevgelija and Negotino, who were suspected of abusing their posts, taking bribes, mediating illegally and forging personal documents.

The group damaged the Agency for State Roads for 120 million denars (nearly 2 million euros).

Asked to comment Macedonia's ranking in the 2011 Transparency International report, Jankuloska said the country was ranked 69th among 182 countries.

"Macedonia has slightly fallen several places, but the score of 3.9 is somewhat lower only in comparison to 2010 and it's higher compared to previous rankings. This is another reason to review the report and to detect the areas so that we can improve all of the shortcomings next year. I believe that this operation sends a clear message that corruption cannot and must not be tolerated," the minister urged.