KRIK has acquired “Sky”, “Vocap”, and other communications from a key figure in the drug cartel, Darko Šarić, who collaborated with businessman Dragoljub Zbiljić, linked to the Serbian Progressive Party.

Their exchanges highlight the intricate relationships between political, business, and criminal factions in Novi Sad, showcasing conflicts among rival factions within the SNS, interactions between politicians—primarily Miloš Vučević—and criminal elements as well as hooligans. They also shed light on the pursuit of Andrej Vučić’s favor, insights into securing multi-million dollar contracts, and the influence of the criminal underworld on appointments in the energy sector and police force.

Moreover, KRIK reports that Europol had shared these messages with Serbian authorities a year prior, but no action was taken by local police or prosecutors, as reported by N1.

Messages exchanged by Miloš Pandrc, a close associate of drug lord Darko Šarić, via “Sky” and “Vocap” in 2020 reveal significant happenings within the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad and its ties to various criminal groups and violent hooligan organizations. Additionally, KRIK has retrieved a report from foreign law enforcement that summarizes these communications.

This associate of Šarić, who was serving a 10.5-year sentence for international cocaine trafficking, maintained close relations with prominent SNS businessman Dragoljub Zbiljić. Zbiljić coordinated business with Pandrc, relaying party events from Novi Sad along with messages from then-mayor Miloš Vučević, highlighting their close connection, as evidenced by the “Vocap” messages disclosed by KRIK.

The correspondence among Pandrc, Zbiljić, and Vučević suggests that in 2020, the Serbian Progressive Party in Novi Sad was far from cohesive.

Intrigues, internal schisms, and business rivalries were common. The messages reveal that representatives from local governments and SNS tycoons concealed their involvement in various enterprises from one another. Members of differing factions collaborated on business initiatives while simultaneously maneuvering behind each other’s backs, according to N1.

This situation is hardly surprising, given the staggering values of these deals that were often in the tens of millions of euros, as reflected in the messages.

For instance, Pandrc claims that businessman Zbiljić netted 25 million euros from a single deal, with the president’s godfather, Nikola Petrović, allegedly receiving 2.5 million euros “in his hands.”

In his messages, the criminal Pandrc voiced his disdain for politicians because of the treachery amongst them.

“It’s insane how they drive each other crazy. That’s the caliber of people. Politicians,” wrote Šarić’s associate to his contact.

The core of the conflicts within the Novi Sad SNS factions revolved around energy projects, as indicated by the “Sky” messages.

An analysis of the messages shows that the influential figures in Novi Sad were split into two factions, composed of politicians, businessmen, and notable organized crime members.

One faction was led by Zbiljić, with Pandrc closely allied with him. This faction was also linked to the then-mayor of Novi Sad and the current prime minister in resignation, Miloš Vučević, as noted by KRIK.

Opposing them was a faction led by individuals whom Pandrc referred to as ‘Celavi’ and ‘Turšija,’ or ‘Debeli.’ According to police reports, ‘Turšija’ refers to the current criminal Goran Kovačević Goranac, while KRIK sources suggest that ‘Celavi’ is Zvonko Veselinović. This group, according to messages shared between Pandrc and Zbiljić, was reportedly close to Nikola Petrović, who is the godfather of the Serbian president.

The notorious Novi Sad criminal and hooligan leader Slobodan Milutinović, known as Sniper, has been associated with both factions. Pandrc claims that he was “made by Vučević” and that his faction, with the former mayor’s backing, is reportedly earning “100-200 thousand (euros) monthly from these deals.”

Above these factions, in terms of influence, was reportedly the president’s brother, Andrej Vučić, for whose approval both factions strived, as captured in the “Sky” messages.

When Andrej Vučić reportedly decided to take a more active role in energy matters, he became intolerant of the faction that included Čelavi and the president’s godfather, Petrović.

However, none of these conflicts appeared to be resolved during 2020, as the messages suggest that each faction held compromising information on the others, a common occurrence in the realm of politics.

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