Drug lord Darko S. arrested after four years on Serbian most-wanted list

Suspected drug lord Darko S., who had been a fugitive for the last four years, was arrested March 18 in Latin America as a result of a joint operation of Serbia and Montenegro.

“The trial of arrested drug lord Darko S. will raise and settle many issues,” said Serbian Minister of Justice Nicola Selakovic, as quoted by press wire Tanjug. “It will not be a trial like any other. Organized crime implies a connection between the state and criminals where someone is helping the criminals. Someone from the state allowed Darko S. to launder money, privatize companies and gain valuable real estate and the question is who.”

The minister stated that the trial of Darko S., which starts Monday March 24, will be a test for the Serbian prosecution authorities, as well as the prosecutor’s office and the court. He expressed confidence that the establishment will pass that test.

The arrest of the fugitive drug lord should be well received by the EU, according to the Advisor to Swedish ambassador Liselott Martynenko Agerlid.

“The arrest of Darko S. is a very good signal for the EU, but also for Serbia,” said Agerlig March 19, as cited by Tanjug. “It demonstrates the country’s willingness to carry out a serious fight against corruption and organized crime.”

Darko S. has been charged with laundering EUR 22 mln. In addition, there are currently 13 indictments against members of his organization. The indictments differ and include various crimes from drug trafficking to money laundering, according to the Prosecutor for Organized Crime Miljko Radisavljevic.

“Six of the indictments refer to cocaine trafficking and seven to money laundering,” said Radisavljevic, as cited by Tanjug.

The prosecutor also said that the case is the largest and the most-complex the Office of the Prosecutor for Organized Crime has undertaken.