Prosecution probes tobacco smuggling

The Special Organized Crime Prosecution launched an investigation into a tobacco smuggling ring led by Anton Stanaj. Stanaj was arrested at Belgrade Airport on September 13, while waiting to board a flight to Podgorica. Prosecution probes tobacco smuggling Interior Minister Dragan Jocic confirmed at the time that five more persons suspected of belonging to the same group had been apprehended, including Pajo Juric, Stevan Stevanovic, Erik Karadzon, Slavisa Jurisic i Srecko Miranovic The Special Prosecution said on Monday that fifteen people, suspected of belonging to the ring, will be under investigation, including Stanaj, Pajo Juric, Slavica Juric, Stevan Stevanovic, Bogdan Markovic (aka Guslar), Resad Hajrovic, Zeljko Vujevic, Erika Karaconji, Slavisa Pavlovic, Srecko Milanovic, Biljana Pupovac, Ivana Ilic, Zeljko Saulic, Ivan Juhas and Nedeljko Kijanovic. Markovic and Hajrovic are still on the run. Jocic explained that cigarettes had been smuggled from China, Croatia and Dubai, transferred via the ports of Bar in Montenegro, Bari in Italy and Rijeka in Croatia to reach Serbia and Hungary. As for Stanaj, he and his family live in Cyprus. He also made regular visits to Podgorica and Novi Sad. According to our sources in MUP, Stanaj’s father is a close friend of former Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and his brother Aca. Over the past several months, Stanaj allegedly extended the smuggling racket to the Romanian market as well. From Romania, cigarettes were transferred to black markets across Western Europe. Stanaj is the chairman of the Roksped Company, founded by his father in 1992. The company is believed to be behind the smuggling of cigarettes, most of which were manufactured in a Croatian tobacco factory in Rovinj. MUP officers arrest Stanaj at Belgrade Airport (Photo courtesy MUP)

Prosecution probes tobacco smuggling

Interior Minister Dragan Jočić confirmed at the time that five more persons suspected of belonging to the same group had been apprehended, including Pajo Jurić, Stevan Stevanović, Erik Karadžon, Slaviša Jurišić i Srećko Miranović

The Special Prosecution said on Monday that fifteen people, suspected of belonging to the ring, will be under investigation, including Stanaj, Pajo Jurić, Slavica Jurić, Stevan Stevanović, Bogdan Marković (aka Guslar), Rešad Hajrović, Željko Vujević, Erika Karačonji, Slaviša Pavlović, Srećko Milanović, Biljana Pupovac, Ivana Ilić, Željko Saulić, Ivan Juhas and Nedeljko Kijanović.

Marković and Hajrović are still on the run.

Joćić explained that cigarettes had been smuggled from China, Croatia and Dubai, transferred via the ports of Bar in Montenegro, Bari in Italy and Rijeka in Croatia to reach Serbia and Hungary.

As for Stanaj, he and his family live in Cyprus. He also made regular visits to Podgorica and Novi Sad. According to our sources in MUP, Stanaj’s father is a close friend of former Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović and his brother Aca.

Over the past several months, Stanaj allegedly extended the smuggling racket to the Romanian market as well.

From Romania, cigarettes were transferred to black markets across Western Europe.

Stanaj is the chairman of the Rokšped Company, founded by his father in 1992. The company is believed to be behind the smuggling of cigarettes, most of which were manufactured in a Croatian tobacco factory in Rovinj.