Head of Czech Environmental Inspectorate Accused of Ties to Family's Drug Business — Minister Defends Him

Pavel Straka, director of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate (ČIŽP), has been accused of possible involvement in his family's drug business. According to media reports, Straka's brother Luděk was previously convicted of drug trafficking, while their mother Alena was convicted of harassment and unlawful interference with housing rights. At the time, Straka shared a household with them.

Former lawyer Farkač, who has since been stripped of his right to practice law due to his own conviction in an unrelated case, claims the Straka family ran cannabis cultivation and hashish production as a family enterprise, with roles divided among its members. According to him, the plantations were located in Lanžhot on property owned by the family — one greenhouse equipped with grow lights, another outdoors — and a hashish press was also kept there, which he says he saw with his own eyes. Straka himself was previously charged with extortion but was acquitted by the court for lack of evidence.

Minister stands up for his appointee

Environment Minister Igor Červený said he personally discussed all the allegations reported in the press with Straka. "Based on specific documents, he convinced me that the information provided by former lawyer Farkač does not correspond to reality," Červený said. He also sharply criticized journalists, calling it a "communist method" — one that ended back in 1989 — to judge a person by their relatives.

The minister urged journalists and opposition politicians to familiarize themselves with the Czech Constitution and the civil service law before commenting further on the matter. In light of the scandal, the opposition ODS party has demanded that Červený disclose the details of Straka's appointment, publish his full professional résumé, and clarify any possible connection to criminal activity.

The Ministry of the Environment stated that it currently has no information that would call into question Straka's proper performance of his duties as ČIŽP director or that would require additional measures. Igor Červený appointed businessman Pavel Straka as head of the inspectorate on June 18. Straka ran for the Motoristé (Motorists) party in South Moravia and is a major sponsor of the ruling party.

Around Prague, based on reporting by ekolist.cz