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===France===
===France===
Known in [[French language|French]] as ''Mafia Serbe''.
Known in [[French language|French]] as ''Mafia Serbe''.

In 1962, Stevica Marković, Miša Milošević and Radovan Delić arrived in Paris, were part of the "Garderodameri" that was formed in 1966 with the arrival of Marko Nicovic.<ref name="novine99">http://www.novine.ca/feljton/feljton-0993.html</ref>


[[File:HarryWinstonStorefront.JPG|thumb|left|140px|Harry Winston]]
[[File:HarryWinstonStorefront.JPG|thumb|left|140px|Harry Winston]]

Revision as of 22:23, 21 January 2010

Serbian Mafia
TerritoryEuropean Union, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Norway.
EthnicitySerbs, Montenegrins
Criminal activitiesArms trafficking, Assassinations, Assault, Attempted murder, Auto theft, Bank fraud, Bankruptcy fraud, Blackmailing, Bodyguarding services, Bribery, Car bombings, Contract killing, Drug trafficking, Extortion, Fraud, Human trafficking, Infiltration of Legitimate businesses, Infiltration of Politics, illegal gambling, Insurance fraud, Jewelery and Gems theft, Kidnapping, Legitimate businesses, Military corruption, Military Equipment smuggling, Money laundering, Murder, Police corruption, Political corruption, protection racket, Racketeering, Tax evasion, Theft, Witness intimidation, and Witness tampering
Serbian organized crime
Organized crime groups

Belgrade gangs:

Outside the Balkans:

Operations against organized crime
See also
Notable people

Serbian Organized Crime (Template:Lang-sr) are various criminal organizations based in Serbia or composed of ethnic-Serbs. Serbian criminals are active in the European Union (EU) countries and sometimes in United States of America. The Serbian mafia is primarily involved in smuggling, the arms trafficking, drug trafficking, protection racket, illegal gambling, jewelry and gems theft, bodyguarding, and contract killing.

The Mafia is composed of several major organized groups, which in turn have wider networks throughout primarily Europe.

History

File:Carugavr3.jpg
Čaruga

In the early 1900s, a known outlaw was Jovo Stanisavljević Čaruga, a hajduk in Slavonia who joined the "Band of mountain birds" (Kolo gorskih tića, tići) a group of robbers who ravaged the countryside of Slavonia. The 1991 biographical film Čaruga was the last Yugoslavian film.

Ljuba Zemunac was known as a godfather of the Serbian Mafia, during the 70's and 80's he operated in Germany and was killed in 1986 by rival Goran Vuković "Majmun".

Joca Amsterdam operated in Netherlands and become one of the strongest gangsters through his elimination of rivals while working as a hitman and overtaking the drug market[1]. He obtained the cocaine from contacts in Colombia[1] and earned a name as the "Cocaine King"[2]. He later lived in Bulgaria where he was successful in drug smuggling until his arrest in 2002[1]. Upon returning to Serbia, he took over companies through with the force of the Surčin clan[1], one of three then most powerful "clans" of Belgrade; Serbia. Joca was later in 2008 involved in the car bomb of Ivo Pukanić and Niko Franjić.

Also up-and-coming "Arkan" was successful bank robber in Western Europe during the 70's. He had convictions and warrants in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. He managed to escape several prisons and had made connections with several known criminals from Yugoslavia during his time there. In the 80's he returned to Serbia where he started with illegal businesses and led the Red Star Belgrade supporter club Delije Sever Ultras.[3]

The real breakthrough for criminal organizations in Serbia occurred in 1991 when wars broke out in Yugoslavia after deteriorating relations between the republics and ethnic groups. Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks fought over territory in Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. International sanctions were imposed on Serbia since 1991 and the Republic was economically isolated. The economic disaster prompted the breakthrough for criminal organizations. Desperate for money, many former military and youths turned to crime.

In 1992, the gang of "Peca" was arrested, one of the members was Dušan Spasojević, the later head of Zemun clan[4]. A young mobster from Vozdovac Aleksandar Knežević "Knele" is murdered in October, prompting brief wars in Belgrade, he was the son of Belgrade gangster "Buca Al Kapone"[4]

Arkan's Tigers

Arkan was the founder and leader of the Serb Volunteer Guard (Arkan's Tigers) a Serbian paramilitary unit that fought during the war, made up of Red Star Belgrade hooligans of Delije Sever and gangsters from Serbia[3]. The members profited from the battlefields and business from Serbia. He founded the Party of Serbian Unity in 1993. When he returned from the war, he was the most powerful of the Serbian Mafia, he soon married Turbo-Folk singer Ceca, the most popular singer in Serbia[5]. His lawyer, Giovanni Di Stefano paid the wedding of Arkan and Ceca, he was a collegue of Arkan in Europe during the 70's, now a controversial lawyer and close friend to Milošević who has defended Saddam Hussein and Chemical Ali.

File:Milosevic-1.jpg
Slobodan Milošević

Slobodan Milošević, the President, protected the Mafia in exchange for favours, thus being in direct connection with the Mafia. The business that profited the Mafia was cigarettes and oil smuggled during the the start of the Yugoslav wars because of the sanctions. Stanko Subotić is a €650 million(net worth) rich businessman that profited greatly after 1993 in the cigarettes trade, leader of the so called "Tobacco Mafia"[6]. After the fall of Milošević, Subotić maintained connection with the Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović. Cigarettes were produced in the Republic of Macedonia and sold into Central Europe[7].

From 1994-2000 illegal cigarette smuggling in Italy was operated by the Serbian Mafia together with the Italian Mafia[8].

The 1996 Documentary film "Vidimo se u čitulji" (See you in the obituaries) follows the gangsters of New Belgrade.

Arkan's tomb

On 15 January, 2000, Arkan was murdered in the lobby of Continental Hotel Belgrade.

When Slobodan Milošević lost the power in the October 2000 Bulldozer Revolution. However, a bloody feud soon emerged amongst the different "clans". The feud grew into an open war in which many of the mafia bosses were assassinated.[5]

Organized crime in Serbia had more money and better armed than the government and police, the Serbian Interior Minister Dušan Mihajlović said in 2001. He said Slobodan Milošević had given life to crime-syndicates as "state-sanctioned mafia". Prostitutes from the Soviet Republics working in Northern Europe were working for Balkan organizations. After Milošević lost power the Mafia was seeking a new contact in the government[7]

In 2002, a "White Book" was compiled with 52 criminal organizations of Serbia, none of which had been terminated by the year's end.

During the period that started with the Yugoslav wars and ended with the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in March 2003, connections between the mafia and the government were obvious and corruption was rampant in most branches of the government, from border patrols to law-enforcement agencies. In March 12, 2003, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated by former Serbian Special Operations Unit (Red Berets, transformed from Arkan's Tigers) Milorad Luković also known as Legija, member of the Zemun clan. Đinđić had connections within the Surčin for the earlier overthrowing of Milošević. His death was seen as the .The government set in motion a major bust on criminality in - "Operation Sablja" (English: Sabre), which led to more than 10,000 arrests. New Belgrade malls, a frequent place of gangsters, went down more than 20+% after the Operation[5].. Milan Sarajlić, the Deputy State Prosecutor of Serbia was arrested and confessed the involvement (being on payroll) with the Zemun clan[9]. 140 kilos of marijuana is seized in Belgrade and 4 people are arrested in November, 2003[10].

In 2006 It was revealed that Dušan Spasojević, the gang leader of the Zemun clan, was a connection to Serbian Radicals leader Vojislav Šešelj, whom he had given information about high-profile murders carried out in Serbia, written about in Šešelj's two books (Spasojević under pseudonym Laufer)[11]

In January, 2009, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic estimated some 30 to 40 serious organized crime groups operating in Serbia[12]. The figures does not include smaller size criminal groups but more organized, involved in drug trafficking and arms trafficking, human trafficking, murder and larger robberies.

In September, 2009, 22 of the Elez group is arrested by the Serbian police, dubbed the most dangerous gang in Western Balkans[13]. The leader, Darko Elez, is captured with 5 other members in Serbia, 13 members are captured in Bosnia & Herzegovina, of which 3 were police officers[13]

Police seized over 2 tons (2,174-2,800 kg) of cocaine shipment from Uruguay in October 17, 2009, the BIA and American DEA made the joint operation[14][15][16]. In October 31, 2009, Serbian police arrested over 500 people in the biggest anti-drug bust ever in Serbia[16]. The Interior Ministry organized the Morava-operation that would focus on drug trafficking to young people in the primary and secondary schools, clubs and cafes and would encompass 2,000 police officers searching the whole country[17].

In November, 2009, Argentine Police arrested 5 Serbian drug couriers and seized their 492 kilograms of cocaine in Buenos Aires[16], One of the largest drug busts in 2009[18]. The routs of the drugs were from Uruguay and Argentina via Central alt. South Africa to Northern Italy alt. Turkey to Montenegro[16]. Also, Serbian organized crime experts estimated 10,000 foot soldiers part of 5 major organized crime groups operating in Serbia[19]. A courier package of 5 kilos cocaine was intercepted from Paraguay, 4 Belgraders were arrested[15].

The busts were part of the Operation Balkan Warrior; an international drug smuggling case that involves mainly the Zemun clan, a name concluded as leader of the drug ring is Željko Vujanović[14].

In December, 2009, Ivica Dačić said "half of the Serbian sport clubs are led by people with links to organized crime"[20]. 21 kilos of heroin ($1,5-million) was found in a Belgrade flat rented by a Montenegrin national, the drugs were brought from Turkey[21].

In January, 2010, a 20 acre lot illegally owned by the Zemun clan was seized at Šilerova Street in Zemun, Belgrade, the clans headquarters[18]. By January 21, The Balkan Warrior Operation included 19 suspects, 9 of whom are in custody, new arrests are Darko Šarić and Goran Soković who are collegues of Željko Vujanović[14]. Also, the same day, a 8-man crime group involved in stealing of Oil over a two-year period from the NIS pipelines, the crude oil was sold through a company, worth several hundred thousands of euros, among the arrested is a member of the MUP.[22]

Involvement in Serbia

Groups

  • New Belgrade (Novi Beograd) gangs, organized in different Blokovi (neighbourhoods), during the 90's the gangsters of New Belgrade were very successful but had after the Yugoslav wars been killed by each other.
  • Surčin clan, at the beginning car thefts, smuggling of petrol and cigarettes, moved on to narcotics. Had connections with officials in police, judiciary and politicians mostly prior to the Operation Sablja.
  • Zemun clan, Drug trafficking, contract-killing, abduction. Had connections with officials in police, judiciary and politicians mostly prior to the Operation Sablja. Head was Legija, a former member of French Legion, Arkan's tiger and Serbian Red Beret.
  • Voždovac clan,

The clans have control over wide networks of smaller groups.

Mafiosi

The reign of Slobodan Milošević represented the height of power of Serbian Organized Crime, when mafiosos and government officials were intertwined. Milošević had criminals work for him in different special units.


Name
Alias 		b/† Title Info Affiliation
Željko Ražnatović
"Arkan"		 1952-2000 Head Considered the most powerful criminal in Serbia until his assassination in 15 January, 2000. ♠
Zoran Šijan -1999 Boss killed on 27 November 1999. He was the husband of Serbian Turbo-folk singer Goca Božinovska. Surčin
Georg Stanković
"Žorž"		 -1993 Boss one of the infamous mob bosses of the older generation. He was murdered on October 1, 1993 by a sole hitman.
Mihajlo Divac -1995 Boss leader of the Novi Beograd gang at time, he had previously survived a number of murder attempts. Divac was gunned down in the hall of the Hotel "Putnik", in Belgrade in 1995. Novi Beograd
Jusuf Bulić
"Jusa"		 -1998 Lieutenant one of Arkan's closest lieutenants, was killed in 1998. Arkan
Dušan Spasojević
"Šiptar"
"Duća"		 Boss Zemun
Ljubomir Magaš
"Ljuba Zemunac"		 1948-1986 Boss a Yugoslav amateur boxer, streetfighter and gangster, during the 70's and 80's he operated his own gang in Germany and was killed in 1986 by rival Goran Vuković "Majmun". ♠
Aleksandar Golubović
"Kristijan"		 1969- only surviving gangster of top Belgrade criminals in the 90's
Milorad Ulemek
"Legija"		 Boss Arkan's Tigers member during the Yugoslav wars, transferred into the Red berets by Milošević, involved in Djindjic murder Arkan
Zemun
Aleksandar Knežević
"Knele"		 -1992 the youngest "star" of the Serbian mafia at the beginning of the 1990s, he was close to the authorities. Knežević was murdered on October 28, 1992 in his room at the "Hyatt" hotel in Belgrade. Voždovac
Božidar Stanković
"Batica"		 -1996 Georg Stanković's son, he was murdered on June 23, 1996 by a sole hitman
Zoran Dimitrov
"Žuća"		 -1996 Had priorly survived a number of assassination attempts, but was killed on October 6, 1996 by a sole hitman. Voždovac
Rade Ćaldović
"Ćenta"		 -1997 the infamous Belgrade mafioso, was murdered on February 14, 1997 in his car in Belgrade by two assassins.
Zoran Todorović
"Kundak"		 -1997 was killed on 24 October 1997.
Darko Ašanin -1998 A Belgrade gangster involved with drugs and killings. His uncle was Pavle Bulatović, the late Defense Minister. Murdered on June 30, 1998, in his cafe "Koloseum" in Dedinje by a sole hitman.
Radoslav Trlajić
"Bata Trlaja"		 -2000 a Belgrade mob boss and a member of the Novi Beograd gang. He was famous for referring to Serbia and Belgrade in the nineties as "a pond too small for so many crocodiles". He was murdered on February 26, 2000 by Mile Luković of the Zemun gang. Novi Beograd
Zoran Davidović
"Ćanda"		 -2000 was murdered while returning from the funeral of Branislav Lainović on March 23, 2000 by the Zemun clan.
Stanko Subotić "Cane" Boss Head of the Tobacco Mafia that smuggled cigarettes throughout Europe, allegedly connected with Serbian and Montenegrin officials. ♠Tobacco Mafia
♠=Own gang

The role of several Belgrade people was reported in the documentary film "Vidimo se u čitulji" "See You in the Obituary".



Other

Name
Alias 		b/d Title
Profession 		Info Affiliation
Radovan Stojičić
"Badža"		 -1997 Chief a police chief killed on 10 April 1997 in the pizza parlour "Mama Mia" in Belgrade by a sole hitman. Police
Zoran Uskoković
"Skole"		 -2000 Businessman a Belgrade businessman, was murdered on April 27, 2000 by the members of the Zemun clan.
Momir Gavrilović Deputy Chief
(Retired)		 was killed by Milorad Ulemek "Legija" and the Zemun clan in an attempt to damage Zoran Đinđić's administration by convincing the public that he was killed for delivering "evidence" of government ties with the criminals. Sretko Kalinić's, the number one hitman of the Zemun clan, DNA was found on the murder spot. Zvezdan Jovanović was asked to carry out the assassination. BIA
  • Smail Taric,was beheaded because of his connections with the police by two members of the Beran Clan, Velibor Brkic and Milos Rasic[23].
  • Branislav Lainović "Dugi", businessman from Novi Sad, murdered in Belgrade on March 21, 2000 by Miloš Simović of the Zemun gang

Activity outside Serbia

The Pink Panthers international jewel thief network is responsible for some of the most audacious thefts in criminal history [24]. They are responsible for what have been termed some of the most glamorous heists ever, with their crimes being thought of as "artistry" even by criminologists.[25] They have targeted several countries and continents, and include Japan's most successful robbery ever amongst their thefts.

Interpol believes that the group are responsible for US$130 million in bold robberies in Dubai, Switzerland, Japan, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Monaco. They are believed to be responsible for the robbery of the jewellery store Harry Winston in Paris, on December 9, 2008. The thieves escaped with more than €80 million worth of jewellery.[26]

Australia

The first Serbian mafiosi came to Australia in the late 70's, organized in a Yugoslav clan, their headquarters were some 15 kafanas in Sydney, Wolongong and Melbourne. .[4]

In 2005 interviews with Australian Serbs, it was said some 20 Zemun clan members operated in Australia at the time, double the number working prior to Operation Sablja[4]. Serbian boxer Božidar Cvetić who in 2002 was stabbed[27], now worked as a bouncer in Australia said that Australian police had shown him pictures of some 150 Serbian criminals active in Australia[4].

In May 2007, Australian police saw recruitment to organized crime motorcycle gangs from young Serbs[28].

Austria

On October 27, 1978 Veljko Krivokapić secretly met with Ljubomir Magaš, a member of the gang he had just left, at the Zur Hauptpost coffee house in Vienna. Magaš and another Yugoslav, Rade Caldović, grabbed Krivokapić and fractured his skull with a glass bottle.

Involvement with Corsican gangsters in late 1960s.

The Pink Panthers have operated in Austria[29].

Bosnia

The Serbian Mafia is the largest organized crime group in Bosnia & Herzegovina with operations from the entity of Republic of Srpska.

The Zemun clan is active in Bosnia[30].

Bulgaria

From 1994-1997 Zemun clan leader Dusan Spasojevic used heroin supplies channels through Sofia.

Sreten Jocić (Joca Amsterdam) escaped custody in Netherlands in 1993, he left for Bulgaria where he would continue his drug smuggling under the pseudonym "Marko Milosavljevic"[1]. He was arrested in 2002 and extradited to Netherlands[1].

One Macedonian national and 2 Bulgarians were arrested during the Operation Moonlight linked with the Zemun clan; they trafficed cocaine from Bolivia.[31]

Zemun clan member Nenad Milenković "Milenko" was arrested in 2003 at the Varna resort, following the international warrant by the Serbian police after Operation Sablja. He was suspected of orchestrating at least 3 murders in Bulgaria and some 20 in Serbia[32].

The Zemun clan successfully managed the drug traffic from Bulgaria after 2003, taking over the market from Surcin-associate Sreten Jocić.[33]

Bulgarian tycoon Iliya Pavlov was murdered by Serbian Mafia in 2004 it is believed. He owed 250 million dollars to the Milosevic regime.[34]

Croatian hitman Robert Matanic and his collegues were hired by the Zemun clan to kill people of the concurrenting Bulgarian Mafia for the Balkan drug route. Dimitar Hristov, Kaloyan Savov and Zhivko Mitev were killed in a shootout on June 4, 2004. Matanic and his men were hired by Milcho Bonev (SIC) as bodyguards after friends of Matanic introduced by his Serbian friends in the Zemun clan[35][36]. Milcho Bonev was assassinated in 2004, believed to be organized by the Serbian Mafia.[37]

In September 2007, a believed internal feud resulted in the death of Jovica Lukic, the critical wounding of 2 other men, a mother and her baby. The men were all members of the Zemun clan.[38]

Former Litex president Angel Bonchev had business with the Zemun clan. He was kidnapped in 2008.[39]

The Zemun clan is active in Bulgaria[30].

Croatia

The murder of Croatian publisher and founder of weekly "Nacional" Ivo Pukanić and his marketing chief Niko Franjić in 2008 was ordered by Sreten Jocić who hired Željko Milovanović, a former Red Berets member who bombed the car of the publisher with the help of Milenko Kuzmanović. Pukanic had ties to Balkan criminals.[40] All three were arrested by the Serbian police.

Czech Republic

In the 90's, Serbian organized groups was one of the leading syndicates operating in Czech republic[41]. A letter was sent to Czech newspapers containing information on a supposed future assassination of President Havel by 5 members (Vaso, Krule, Draza, and Micko) and their whereabouts, the letter was written in broken Czech, thought by the Police to be sent by a rival gang[41].

Denmark

The Serbian-Danish actor Slavko Labović, who played Radovan in the movie Pusher, was arrested, along with his brother, for possession of illegal arms (loaded gun) in Sweden. He was the director of the RK Company in Denmark[42], a illegal gambling company owned by Rade Kotur (Spelkungen, The Gambling King) a known figure in Sweden who hired the murder of Ratko Đokić[42]. During the trial of Rade Kotur, Labović came to support Kotur[42].

The Serbian Brotherhood or in Serbian "Srpsko Bratstvo" is believed to be the top crime organisation in Copenhagen.

France

Known in French as Mafia Serbe.

In 1962, Stevica Marković, Miša Milošević and Radovan Delić arrived in Paris, were part of the "Garderodameri" that was formed in 1966 with the arrival of Marko Nicovic.[43]

Harry Winston

The Pink Panthers have operated in France. In October 2008, police officials in Monaco arrested two members of the gang, a Serb and a Bosnian Serb. The gang is suspected of jewelry and gems theft at Harry Winston for an estimated value of up to 80 million Euros or 105 million US dollars.[44]

Greece

File:Golubovic.Jail.jpg
Kristijan Golubović operated in Greece

After the Yugoslav wars, Kristijan Golubović worked in Greece. In 2002 he escaped from Malandrino, a Greek prison where he was serving a 14 and a half years sentence for stealing two Mercedes-Benz cars and an armed robbery.

In December 2009, two Serbs were arrested suspected of involvement of a major group smuggling cocaine from Peru to Montenegro on luxury yachts. The American DEA helped the Greek police to track the smuggling for 5 months. 2 other Serbs are wanted in Serbia[45].

Germany

Known in German as the German: Serbische Mafia, Jugoslawische Mafia.

  • Ljubomir Magaš "Ljuba Zemunac" ("Ljuba from Zemun"), "The Godfather", is considered as the ultimate boss of the Serbian mafia at the time. He was killed by two shots to the heart from close range in front of the courthouse in Frankfurt, Germany in 1986 by Goran Vuković "Majmun".
  • Goran Vuković "Majmun" ("Monkey"), who is most famous for killing Ljubomir Magaš, survived five murder attempts following the killing of Ljubomir Magaš before he was assassinated in downtown Belgrade in broad daylight in 1994. He was a member of the Vozdovac clan.

In the 90's, the underground of former Eastern Germany was controlled by Italian, German, Russian, Vietnamese and Serbian organized groups[46]. Leipzig was the centre of money laundering, smuggling, prostitution and protection rackets due to the weak system[46]. The most profitable operations of the groups from former Yugoslavia was car thefts, luxury cars were stolen in Germany and sold to Eastern Europe, North Africa and Far East[46].

Andrija Drašković, a heir to Arkan's syndicate following his assassination, was arrested by German police in Frankfurt after four years on the run from the Italian Anti-Organized Crime Unit. Drašković is believed to have organized the murder of his former boss Arkan. [47].

The Pink Panthers have made jewelry robberies in Germany[29]

Italy

In 1971 Ljubomir Magas arrived in Italy and went to Milan. In 1972 started the criminal career of Rade Caldovic and he settled in Milan. Caldovic was shot in his stomach in Verona by Bata Glavac, Caldovic went to prison in Rome. The criminal yugo gang in Milan was formed by Ljubomir Magas, Rade Caldovic, Veljko Krivokapic, Slobodan Grbovic, Milan Civija, Dule Milanovic, Dragan Malesevic, Mile Ojdanic, Sava Somborac, Pera Oziljak, Marinko Magda, Zeljko Raznatovic "Arkan", Djordje Bozovic. They did holdups, murders and burglaries in Triest, Rome and Milan.

During the 90's the 'Ndrangheta acquired weapon arsenal (Bazookas, explosives, automatic firearms) built in Serbia, imported through firms outside Italy[46]

From 1994-2000 illegal cigarette smuggling in Italy was operated by the Serbian Mafia together with the Italian Mafia[8].

Zemun clan member Ninoslav Konstantinovic fled Netherlands to Italy after his brother was arrested in 2003. In Italy he became a leading heroin distributor and professional hitman, working for the Italian Mafia in Naples, he is recognized as highly skilled as many of his fellow Zemun clan members are known throughout Europe. His assassinations are known to be brutal and ruthless executions.[30].

In May 2009, Vladimir Jovanović, a former Zemun clan member and Interpol wanted was arrested in Italy[48].

Macedonia

See also Macedonian Mafia

  • Kosta Jankovski: Head of the Macedonian arm of the Serbian mafia.[49]
  • Zoran Boyadjiski, involved in drug trafficking in Germany, Bulgaria under the Zemun clan.


Stanislava Poletan, married to Ranko Poletan, a former commander of the Serbian Volunteer Guard (Arkan's tigers), was suspected of having orchestrated the transport of 486 kilos of cocaine seized at the border crossing of Blace, heading for Greece with the final destination in Western Europe. Poletan is linked with Serbian criminal organizations operating during the Milosevic regime with cigarette and alcohol smuggling, she is also said to be close to chief of Macedonian secret police Slobodan Bogoevski. She is now likely hiding in Serbia.[50]

Montenegro

Montenegro was in a state union with Serbia (Serbia & Montenegro, former FR Yugoslavia) from 1991-2006.

The Serbian Mafia is the leading criminal group in Montenegro. Many of the Belgrade crime groups that were not caught during Operation Sablja hid in Montenegro.

The Zemun clan is active in Montenegro[30].

Netherlands

There has been a number of unsolved murder cases in Amsterdam that have been linked to the activities of Serbian Organized Crime gangs. In recent years the Serbian mafia has been growing strong in the Netherlands.

  • Sreten Jocić ("Joca Amsterdam"), is a hitman and a drug dealer. He is considered to be the leader for the Serbian mafia in Amsterdam.

On Christmas Eve, 1974, Slobodan Mitric killed 3 alleged UDBA members in Kafana "Mostar" in Amsterdam.

In 1977, Emilio Di Giovine was wounded and 2 of his men killed by rival Yugoslavs.

On 24 October, 1979, Arkan, Giovanni Di Stefano and Slobodan Kostovski are arrested while robbing a jewelry store in Amsterdam, they had days earlier robbed a jeweller in Hague and were sought in several countries.

Norway

Non-Norwegian gangs and Organized Crime groups came to dominate Norway's drug trade in the 1980s. During the 1990s Norway saw a large influx of Yugoslavs seeking refugee status due to the conflict in the Balkan region. Currently Yugoslav groups are some of the most dominant and notorious criminal organisations in Norway.

Sweden

Known in Swedish as: Serbiska maffian, Jugoslaviska maffian, Juggemaffian.

The Serbian mafia in Sweden was said to be the top criminal organisation, but its influence has declined since the deaths of several leading figures.

A war was fought over the control of the trade of narcotics and cigarettes between Serbian Organized Crime leaders which resulted in Joksa's and Ratko Đokić's deaths.

Individuals associated to Serbian Organized Crime in Sweden:

  • Ratko Đokić "The Godfather", arms dealer and cigarette smuggler, he was murdered May 5, 2003 by Serbian hitmen hired by Rade Kotur, another notorious Serbian criminal.
  • Dragan "Jokso" Joksović, notorious gambler and assumed cigarette smuggler, was murdered February 4, 1998 in Solvalla, Stockholm by a Finnish hitman hired by "Kova". He was a close friend of Arkan and is said to have helped Arkan on many occasions. Arkan and many other known mafia figures attended his funeral. As revenge, "Kova" was later killed in front of 60 guests at the order of Arkan.
  • Milan Ševo, declared to be the last Head of the Serbian mafia in Sweden. He has survived many murder attempts and in 2004 he escaped from prison. He is married to Ratko Đokić's daughter. It is believed that he has connections with Swedish Hells Angels MC. He is currently living in Serbia where he is a successful businessman.

Sweden saw a large influx of ethnic Serbs during the 60's and 70's, when the "Arbetskraftsinvandring" took place; The labour force of immigrants who were granted citizenship (similar to Gastarbeiter programme). In the 80's the Serbs were the main operators of drug smuggling in Sweden[51].

In March 15, 2003, a Colombian hitman hired by a rivaling gang failed an attempted assassination of Ševo and his companions at a K-15 fighting gala.

In 2003, in a storage room located in the Vårby Gård suburbs, the Swedish police found silenced firearms; Ak47's Uzi's and MP5's, bombs; grenades, plastic explosives and mines[52]. The arsenal was used by the Serbian Mafia in Sweden, the owner of the storage was Milan Ševo, the son-in-law of Ratko Đokić, the former head of Mafia; the title soon inherited by Ševo.

In May 5, 2003, Ratko Đokić was assassinated outside his Boxing club in Skärholmen. One of the hitmen, Nenad Mišović, was arrested in Europe years later. Mišović came to Sweden in 2002 after fleeing the police in Serbia. He was hired by Rade Kotur, a rival of Đokić[42]

One of the chapters in the "Svensk Maffia" (Swedish Mafia)-book follows the history of the Serbian mafia in Sweden from the 60's to modern time.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić claims that former members of the paramilitary Red Berets took part in the 2009 Västberga helicopter robbery one of the most spectacular heists in the history. One month prior to the robbery, the Swedish Embassy was allegedly given "certain information about a criminal group which was preparing a robbery" by Serbian police[53].

United Kingdom

In June 2, 2009, six Serbs were convicted together with several Israelis for their role in a major smuggling of 12.5 ton (£36m) marijuana, orchestrated by the Israeli mafia[54]. The marijuana was seized as it travelled from Larache, Morocco to Southampton on a tugboat under an Israeli flag[55].

The Pink Panthers have operated in London[29]

United States

Boško Radonjić

There has been known involvement of Balkan crime groups in the United States.

One of the most notorious Serbs was Boško Radonjić, leader of the Irish-American organized crime group "the Westies", from 1988-1992. He reestablished the relations with the Gambino family under John Gotti.

The Serbian Mafia has appeared in a number of films and video games. Serbian gangsters in movies are often depicted as muscular, wearing large gold chains and leather jackets. They have hot tempers and are depicted as cold blooded murderers. They have appeared in:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Joca Amsterdam – Most Powerful Balkan Criminal". Javno. 30.10.2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ http://www.javno.com/en-croatia/joca-amsterdam--i-did-not-kill-ivo-pukanic_198388
  3. ^ a b "Gangster's life of Serb warlord". BBC. 15.01.2001. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e http://www.novine.ca/feljton/feljton-1018.html Cite error: The named reference "novine1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Green, P (05.05.2003). "For Partying Mobsters, the Morning After: Prison". NY Times. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/38297/serbian-tobacco-mafia-led-its-operation-from-croatia
  7. ^ a b "Serbian gangs richer than government". BBC. 20.06.2001. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=01&dd=19&nav_id=64597
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  13. ^ a b 10 najvećih hapšenja u 2009
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  17. ^ http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?mm=10&dd=31&yyyy=2009
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  19. ^ Serbia: Cheap drugs and corruption fuels mafia expansion
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  24. ^ Balkans' Pink Panther jewel thieves smash their way into myth -- latimes.com
  25. ^ "Three suspected Pink Panther gang members arrested in Monaco". The Daily Telegraph. 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-06-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Pink Panthers' Global Trail Littered with Jewels
  27. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200202/s491312.htm
  28. ^ http://news.scotsman.com/organisedcrime/Police-wage-war-on-Australias.3285057.jp
  29. ^ a b c "Trojici članova grupe "Pink Panter" 31 godina zatvora". RTS. 04.12.2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ a b c d "Zemun Clan Mafia: Assassins Throughout Europe". Javno. August 21, 2008.
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  40. ^ http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906011056dowjonesdjonline000376&title=serbian-police-arrest-suspect-in-croatian-journalists-murder
  41. ^ a b "Terrorism, 1992-1995:[...]". ABC-CLIO, 1997.
  42. ^ a b c d "Pengar, makt, fiendskap och dödligt våld". Aftonbladet. 24.08.2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ http://www.novine.ca/feljton/feljton-0993.html
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  46. ^ a b c d Ćirković, Sima M., and Vuk Tošić. European money trails Taylor & Francis, 1999. ISBN 9789057023620.
  47. ^ http://www.javno.com/en-world/suspected-serb-gang-boss-arrested-in-germany_27309
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  49. ^ a b Berislav Jelinić (2002-06-05). "Nacional Reveals the Macedonian Arm of the Balkan Tobacco Mafia: Kosta Jankovski, boss of the Macedonian smugglers, is also a Croatian citizen". Nacional. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  50. ^ http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=50211&NrIssue=240&NrSection=10
  51. ^ Jan Bondeson, Blood on the snow: the killing of Olof Palme, ISBN, 9780801442117
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  53. ^ Associated Press (2009-09-28). "Officials: Serbs took part in Sweden chopper heist". Google News.
  54. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/duo-jailed-for-smuggling-12-tonnes-of-cannabis-1696972.html
  55. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8071034.stm

Further reading

Glenny, M. (2008). McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld Template:SerbianLopusina, Marko (2003). Srpska Mafija (Serbian Mafia)

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