Suspects from Serbia among those arrested in Brazil

Brazilian police have arrested 17 people, "mostly Serbs", accused of being involved in an international drug trafficking organization, the AFP has reported. The French news agency, however, did not publish the names of those now under arrest, or any other details. Suspects from Serbia among those arrested in Brazil Serbia's intelligence agency (BIA) officials Jovan Stojic said in Belgrade on Friday that this agency took part in the operation in Brazil via America's DEA. BIA identified the group's ringleader a year ago, Stojic told Serbia's broadcaster RTS. He denied that the crime group was "made up mostly of Serbs", explaining that three persons among those arrested in Brazil were "from Serbia". Stojic refused to reveal their names, saying that this would be done by Brazil's police. He also noted that the name of the person identified as "one of the most wanted Serbian criminals" was "not known to the public, but is well known in police and security circles". B92 has unofficially learned that he is Dejan Stojanovic aka Keka - previously identified by Serbia's MUP as the leader of the so-called New Belgrade Clan. According to this, 18 suspects have been arrested in all, three Serbians among them, while others come from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Brazil, Holland, Turkey, South Africa, and Colombia. Earlier today, reports said that Brazilian police stated the group’s leader was arrested on May 1, that he was one of the most wanted criminals in Serbia, and that he would be extradited. The Brazilian Federal Police investigation lasted two years. 620 kilograms of cocaine and about BRL 2mn (EUR 846,000) have been seized, police stated in a release. “The members of the criminal organization are wanted on the international level for their dangerous nature and their drug-related crimes,” the Brazilian police pointed out. The gang operated in federal Brazilian states of Sao Paolo, Espirito Santo, Parana, Amazonas, Para and Rondonia.

Suspects from Serbia among those arrested in Brazil

Serbia's intelligence agency (BIA) officials Jovan Stojić said in Belgrade on Friday that this agency took part in the operation in Brazil via America's DEA.

BIA identified the group's ringleader a year ago, Stojić told Serbia's broadcaster RTS.

He denied that the crime group was "made up mostly of Serbs", explaining that three persons among those arrested in Brazil were "from Serbia".

Stojić refused to reveal their names, saying that this would be done by Brazil's police.

He also noted that the name of the person identified as "one of the most wanted Serbian criminals" was "not known to the public, but is well known in police and security circles".

B92 has unofficially learned that he is Dejan Stojanović aka Keka - previously identified by Serbia's MUP as the leader of the so-called New Belgrade Clan.

According to this, 18 suspects have been arrested in all, three Serbians among them, while others come from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Brazil, Holland, Turkey, South Africa, and Colombia.

Earlier today, reports said that Brazilian police stated the group’s leader was arrested on May 1, that he was one of the most wanted criminals in Serbia, and that he would be extradited.

The Brazilian Federal Police investigation lasted two years. 620 kilograms of cocaine and about BRL 2mn (EUR 846,000) have been seized, police stated in a release.

“The members of the criminal organization are wanted on the international level for their dangerous nature and their drug-related crimes,” the Brazilian police pointed out.

The gang operated in federal Brazilian states of Sao Paolo, Espirito Santo, Parana, Amazonas, Para and Rondonia.