Montenegrin mafia

Montenegrin mafia
Montenegrin Mafia
Territory The Balkans; Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia
Ethnicity Montenegrins, other Yugoslav people
Criminal activities Arms trafficking, assault, drug trafficking, extortion, fraud, human trafficking, murder, prostitution, theft.

The Montenegrin Mafia (Montenegrin/Serbian: Црногорска мафија / Crnogorska mafija) or Montenegrin Cartel are terms used for the various criminal organizations based in Montenegro or composed of Montenegrins. There are 700 documented organized criminals operating within Montenegro; outside of the country Montenegrin gangs are active throughout Europe-notably Serbia and Slovenia. The gangs tend to specialize in cigarette smuggling, narcotics and arms trafficking.

Contents

History

Montenegrin society is deeply rooted in tribal affiliation, following an old warrior code of Čojstvo i Junaštvo, and with it the sacred practice of vendetta or zakletva, in which when a Montenegrin has his honor disgraced he must exact blood revenge, resulting in many deaths sometimes lasting generations. This parallel form of justice imbedded within Montenegrin culture and mentality creates an atmosphere of lawlessness which not only enables criminals to thrive, but also citizens to tolerate the violence and corruption that exists in Montenegro today.

Crime syndicates

The Montenegrin police have just recently begun documenting and taking action against the many criminal gangs within Montenegro, discovering a vast network of powerful cartels and groups that play a central role in organized crime within the Balkans.[1]

Podgorički Klan

In Podgorica there are four prominent gangs, each loosely working with one another.

The Đurašević Brothers

Maljota, Toma and Marko Đurašević are leaders of a group who's "specialty" is drug smuggling from Albania. They additionally smuggle weapons and export stolen luxury cars into Albania. They are as sociated with the other prominent gangs in Podgorica, also doing business with the Nikšić Mob, Serbian and Albanian mafia.

The Drešaj Brothers

Leon and Viktor Drešaj run a drug cartel based in Podgorica, dealing with major heroin trafficking from Albania into Montenegro. They work closely with the Đurašević Brothers and together control the transit of illicit drugs across the Montenegrin border into the rest of the Balkan states.

In 2006 during operation Poskok the ica narkomanF were arrested along with Maljota Đurašević and several other gangsters for possession and intent to sell illegal narcotics. [2]

The Đoković organization

One of the most powerful men in Podgorica is Mehmed "Bela" Đoković, an alleged boss of a criminal organization from Podgorica. His organization has been known to deal with human trafficking (primarily Albanians and Kosovars being illegally smuggled into Western Europe and America). The police believe "Bela" to be involved in the Đurašević-Drešaj drug trafficking operation as well.

The Lambulić Brothers

Brothers Vjeko and Jugoslav Lambulić control a drug-dealing operation, operating in Switzerland, funneling money back to Montenegro. In 2003 they opened up a business firm and restaurant in Podgorica, using these locations as fronts to hide their source of income.

Vjeko was recently arrested in Belgrade, wanted by Interpol and Swiss police for drug dealing. In court he was tried for smuggling three and a half kilos of Cocaine and Money Laundering and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

During the trial the police found a hidden 120,000 euros, to which Jugoslav claimed he won a million marks at a Belgrade casino. [3]

Barski Gang

The Podgoricans are heavily affiliated with the gangs of Bar, who the Montenegrin police claim in recent times have taken over much of the Montenegrin underworld. The Bar gangs noticeably have a higher level of organization, financial means and connections throughout Montenegro and the rest of Europe. There are two main cartels based in the city of Bar.

The Bar Kartel

The larger of the two main gangs in Bar, the "Bar Kartel" is allegedly led by three individuals: Saša Boreta, Ljubo Bigović and Armin "Mušo" Osmanagić. This gang is known in Bar for its violence and is believed to have strong connections to organized criminal groups in the Belgrade underworld as well as the surrounding ex-YU countries, Albania, Western Europe and South America. It is believed the Bar Kartel deals with Extortion, Drug Trafficking and Human Trafficking. Reputed lower-ranking members being Ljubo Vujadinović and Alen Kožar.

The Bar Kartel were responsible for many high-profile criminal acts in Montenegro, such as the murder of the Montenegrin Police Commissioner Slavoljub Šćekić and the bombing of Hotel Splendid during its construction.[4]

The Ivanović Brothers

The other gang from Bar is controlled by brothers Dragoslav and Duško Ivanović, who's primary focus is Narco-Trafficking and Loansharking.

The Nikšić Mob

Also in the drug business is the Nikšić Mob or "Kvartaši"; some known members are: Željko Kovačević, Radovan and Petar Cerović, Rajko and Radovan Baćović and Predrag "Krcko" Krcunović. It is believed that the Nikšić Mob is the largest criminal organization within Montenegro, reputedly active in Drug Trafficking, Distribution, Extortion, Loansharking, Gambling and Arms Dealing. They work mainly with the Podgorica groups and the Bar Cartels.

There have been two attempts on mobster Predrag "Krcko" Krcunović's life: the first was a few days after Orthodox Christmas in mid-day, in front of a crowded Café and hundreds of pedestrians. Krcko was shot at 8 times however managed to escape untouched.[5] The second attempt was later that year in the center of Nikšić, Krcko was shot at while entering a taxi cab. The cab door riddled with bullet holes, Krcko survived the attack unscathed.[6]

In 2008, a man was shot at in the streets of Nikšić by reputed Nikšić mobster Miloš Radulović, the shots missed-hitting the 12-year old Milica Đokić and critically wounding her. Later the man's car was found in flames.

Željezara Clan

In 2008 11 members and the ring-leader of the criminal group operating in Nikšić were arrested. Automatic weapons, 7 kilos of explosives and over a kilo of narcotics were seized in the arrest. The gang was convicted for illegally owning weapons and for wide-scale distribution of narcotics. The gang has ties to the Nikšić mob, their leader Vedran Prijović allegedly associated with the Kvartaši.

The Rožaje Group

With the strife in nearby Kosovo and the financial means, a gang in Rožaje became very wealthy and powerful very quickly. This group deals almost completely in trafficking heroin from Albanians. The leadership of the group is divided between two sets of brothers, the Musić and Bećiragić. Members include: Mersad Zejnelagić, Sead Lukač and Safet Kalić, many of the members operate outside of Montenegro.

The Berane Group

This gang based in the town of Berane largely operates outside of the country. They deal mostly in drug distribution, dealing cocaine and heroin in Serbia and Western Europe (notably Sweden). Arrested and reputed members include: Vuk Vulević, Milan "Čila" Šćekić, Vuksan Cemović, Velibor Popović, Branislav "Nano" Ivanović and the Rajović brothers (Radisav, Goran i Srđan).Rivals of the Rajović brothers are the Marsenić brothers(Vojislav,Vladan and their cousins).Their rivalry began in 1996 when one of the Rajović brothers was wounded.Then in 1997 one of Marsenić brothers,Komnen "Koka" Marsenić was shot and killed by Rajović brothers,and his friend,also one of Berane's tough guy-Zoran "Zoko" Vasović was wounded.Shootings between these families happened in 1996,1997,1998 (when Marsenić familiy tried to take revendge for Komnen's death in front of the court),and in 2000 when an inocent bystander got killed. The Berane grouop works mainly outside of the country,and Berane's tough guys are widespread across Europe,mainly Switzerland,Germany,Denmark,Sweden,Italy,even in Latin America.

Montenegrin Mafia diaspora

Slovenia

A criminal organization composed of Montenegrin nationals and men of Montenegrin descent are a prominent force within the criminal underworld of Slovenia. The Montenegrin mafia compete with the Albanian mafia and other gangs for control of the drug business in Slovenia. There has been some infighting and power struggles within the organization during the late 90's and early 2000s, resulting in the killing of the gang's boss Veso Jovović in 1998.

On November 4, 1999 Vukašin Jovović attempted to murder fellow gangster Mišo Vujičić, in revenge for the death of his brother gang boss Veso. Mišo survived the attack and Vukašin was acquitted. Mišo Vujičić was shot dead in a five-star hotel in the capital of Slovenia in 2003 and in 2008 a man was arrested for the murder hiding in Montenegro. [7][8][9]

Serbia

With a large Montenegrin community, Serbia is host to many Montenegrin criminals and gangs. Operating mainly in the capital of Belgrade and Montenegrin enclaves in southern Serbia, these groups largely deal with the smuggling of narcotics and weapons.

The Belgrade faction

Throughout Serbia it is in Belgrade where Montenegrin organized crime is thought to be largest. Serbian police and investigators claim that in Belgrade the Montenegrin mafia has a strong presence and is in the running to dominate the Serbian criminal underworld.[10]

The Montenegrin mafia was believed to have been behind the killing of Serbian warlord Arkan in 2000, in order to gain complete control of Belgrade.[11]

On September 10, 2009 Montenegrin businessman Branislav Šaranović was shot to death outside of his apartment in Belgrade. The murder is thought by the police to be the result of a conflict within the Montenegrin mafia. Although mainly residing in Budva, Montenegro, Branislav owned a casino in Belgrade made close ties to Brano Mićunović and Milo Đukanović. [12]

Reputed gangster Brano Mićunović is rumored to be the boss of the Montenegrin mafia in Belgrade and possibly of Montenegro as well.

See also

References

External links



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