The Court of Appeals dismissed as baseless the appeal submitted by defense attorney Ivan Delić regarding the decision made by the Higher Court in Podgorica that ordered his detention on May 29th.

This ruling was issued during yesterday’s council session.

It was noted that Delić is currently in custody due to reasonable grounds for suspicion of committing a criminal offense related to the formation of a criminal organization, as well as two counts of unauthorized production, possession, and distribution of narcotic drugs.

“The Higher Court in Podgorica ordered this defendant’s detention based on the grounds for detention outlined in Article 175, paragraph 1, items 1 and 4 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This decision was made considering that there are factors indicating a risk of flight (item 1) and that the severity of the offense indicates particularly serious characteristics, reflected in the manner of committing the crime and its consequences (item 4). It was decided that the detention will commence from 29.05.2025, the date when the defendant was taken into custody, and will remain in effect until a further court decision,” the statement elaborates.

Ivan Delić (55) from Budva and Aleksandar Keković (34) from Podgorica were extradited to Montenegro from the United Arab Emirates at the end of May, following their arrest in mid-May.

Delić has been under pursuit by Montenegrin police since July of last year on allegations of being involved in the criminal group led by Vaso Ulic and Radoje Zvicer, which was dismantled during the significant international operation known as “General”.

Ulić and Zvicer are identified as the heads of a criminal organization accused of smuggling approximately 2.5 tons of cocaine, whose members include long-sentenced prisoners like Damir Mandić, as well as individuals from the “Amerika” clan, which has been active since the 1990s…

Besides Delić, Zvicer, Leon Drešaj from Tuzi, and Vuk Vulević from Berane have been evading arrest since July 17, 2024.

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