Rajko Smolović from Bar and Novak Joksimović from Podgorica were apprehended this morning under the directive of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, as part of this summer’s Operation “General.” They are suspected of being involved in a major international cocaine smuggling ring.

The criminal report from the Special Police Department also lists other suspects, some of whom are currently in pre-trial detention in Spuž, while others remain fugitives.

The arrest operation commenced at dawn, with searches ongoing throughout Podgorica and along the coast for the rest of the day.

The Special Police Department is executing urgent evidentiary measures against several individuals in Podgorica and Bar, based on the suspicion of their involvement in creating a criminal organization and the unauthorized production, possession, and distribution of narcotic substances. They are taking steps to detain these individuals. Once the evidentiary measures and questioning of the detainees are completed, the Special State Prosecutor’s Office will announce the findings and future procedural decisions,” stated the SDT.

According to the SDT, Smolović and Joksimović were part of a criminal network identified by the codename “General” in documents from the SPO and SDT, with Vaso Ulić from Podgorica and the fugitive Radoje Zvicer, leader of the Kavač clan, as the key organizers.

In July 2024, law enforcement apprehended several individuals in this operation, suspected of orchestrating the smuggling of over 2.5 tons of cocaine from South America to Australia using the encrypted applications SKY and Anom throughout 2021 and 2022.

The smuggling attempts were conducted via ocean-going vessels, including a seizure of 1,570 kg in October 2020, which was thwarted by Colombian intelligence. An attempt to smuggle 900 kg in June 2021 was also stopped in Australian waters.

The SDT and SPO have collaborated for months on this operation with various international agencies, including EUROPOL, the FBI, DEA, and the Australian Federal Police.

Support was also provided by the officers from the Anti-Drugs Department.

Damir Mandić from Podgorica, currently imprisoned since 2004 for involvement in the murder of “Dan” editor Duško Jovanović, is suspected by the SDT of having maintained ongoing communication with fugitive Beran Vuk Vulević regarding drug smuggling activities.

Fugitives playing key roles in this organization include Ivan Delić from Budva, Vaso Ulić from Podgorica, and the Drešaj brothers from Tuzi, Viktor and Leon.

The SDT and SPO have gathered extensive communication records among the criminal organization members.

The prosecution claims that defendants Vaso Ulić, Leon Drešaj, Viktor Drešaj, Veselin Pavličić, the fugitive Ivan Delić, Damir Mandić, Vuk Vulević, Dragan Pavličević, Mileta Božović, Radule Božović, Milo Boćović, Vjekoslav Lambulić, Petar Miranović, and Vukan Čoković Matić committed the offense of unauthorized production, possession, and distribution of narcotics, with evidence collected during the investigation, particularly from encrypted communications via the SKY ECC and Anom applications.

In addition to the use of encrypted technology, the SPO and SDT utilized secret surveillance methods as authorized by the investigating judge of the Higher Court in Podgorica.

According to the SDT, reasonable suspicion that Mandić acted as an accomplice in drug offenses stems from evidence gathered during the investigation, notably the SKY ECC communication initiated in chat no. 26 with an unknown individual using PIN 71E5CN, starting on December 3, 2020…

In a communication, Mandić discussed kangaroos, referencing a person who was supposed to arrive, and he forwarded a screenshot of a message that his associate had sent regarding additional space for another individual. Response came from Veselin Pavličić, known as AC/DC, agreeing to see them the following week.

Further messages from December 14, 2020, revealed plans for a meeting at Ulić’s place, discussing lunch arrangements with “Beranc” and mentioning the possibility of including another individual.

The Special State Prosecutor’s Office indicates that Vulević is reasonably suspected of criminal involvement based on gathered data and evidence, especially the communications through the SKY ECC app in chat 7 with Mandić.

So far, over 20 individuals have been indicted in Operation “General.”

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