Combined trial against Šarić's drug cartel starts

BELGRADE A combined trial against all members of suspected drug lord Darko Saric's cartel got under way at the Organized Crime Chamber of the Belgrade District Court. The group is accused of smuggling 5,754 kilograms of cocaine from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil into Western Europe Combined trial against Saric's drug cartel starts The defendants were first arraigned on the smuggling of 1,825 kilograms of cocaine from Argentina. Businessman Rodoljub Radulovic is among the accused in this indictment. Both Saric and Radulovic are currently at large. Radulovic's defense counsel Velisav Milutinovic told reporters during a recess that his client did not have any criminal or political connections to Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. "They had a friendly relationship, the kind Radulovic had with many politicians, businessmen and celebrities," said Milutinovic. He added there is no legal grounds for making the content of Radulovic's taped conversations public and that he expects a positive response from the prosecution concerning the defense team's demand to stop "the campaign over the wiretaps." "I am not saying this because there is anything there that could incriminate anyone, but because as a lawyer I respect the Constitution," he said. He said his client had contacts with former politicians Radoje Kontic, Radovan Bozovic and Ante Markovic, high-ranking Russian politician Pavlov, and many others. Milutinovic says Radulovic is prepared to appear in court once the defense manages "to dismantle the part of the indictment which is not true." He confirmed the ships mentioned in the Argentinian indictment are owned by Radulovic, but said the defense will prove it was charter companies that managed the ships rather than Radulovic himself. In addition to Saric and Radulovic, 14 other members of the criminal organization are on the run and Interpol has issued warrants for their arrest. They will be tried in absentia, while seven defendants are under arrest and will appear in court. Drasko Vukovic, Radan Adamovic and Nebojsa Joksovic, who turned state's evidence, are also indicted but will not be sentenced at the end of the trial in return for cooperating. The first indictment against members of Saric's group was issued in April 2010. In a deal with the Prosecutor's Office, nine defendants pleaded guilty to cocaine smuggling in exchange for shorter prison sentences and seizure of property. The Saric clan began to dissipate three and a half years ago, after 2.2 tons of cocaine were seized in a Uruguayan port, on a yacht owned by Croatian Anastazije Martincic, during international Operation Balkan Warrior. In addition to the cocaine smuggling trial, proceedings are also under way against the group for money laundering before the same court. Tanjug

Combined trial against Šarić's drug cartel starts

The defendants were first arraigned on the smuggling of 1,825 kilograms of cocaine from Argentina. Businessman Rodoljub Radulović is among the accused in this indictment.

Both Šarić and Radulović are currently at large.

Radulović's defense counsel Velisav Milutinović told reporters during a recess that his client did not have any criminal or political connections to Prime Minister Ivica Dačić.

"They had a friendly relationship, the kind Radulović had with many politicians, businessmen and celebrities," said Milutinović.

He added there is no legal grounds for making the content of Radulović's taped conversations public and that he expects a positive response from the prosecution concerning the defense team's demand to stop "the campaign over the wiretaps."

"I am not saying this because there is anything there that could incriminate anyone, but because as a lawyer I respect the Constitution," he said.

He said his client had contacts with former politicians Radoje Kontić, Radovan Božović and Ante Marković, high-ranking Russian politician Pavlov, and many others.

Milutinović says Radulović is prepared to appear in court once the defense manages "to dismantle the part of the indictment which is not true."

He confirmed the ships mentioned in the Argentinian indictment are owned by Radulović, but said the defense will prove it was charter companies that managed the ships rather than Radulović himself.

In addition to Šarić and Radulović, 14 other members of the criminal organization are on the run and Interpol has issued warrants for their arrest. They will be tried in absentia, while seven defendants are under arrest and will appear in court.

Draško Vuković, Radan Adamović and Nebojša Joksović, who turned state's evidence, are also indicted but will not be sentenced at the end of the trial in return for cooperating.

The first indictment against members of Šarić's group was issued in April 2010. In a deal with the Prosecutor's Office, nine defendants pleaded guilty to cocaine smuggling in exchange for shorter prison sentences and seizure of property.

The Šarić clan began to dissipate three and a half years ago, after 2.2 tons of cocaine were seized in a Uruguayan port, on a yacht owned by Croatian Anastazije Martinčić, during international Operation Balkan Warrior.

In addition to the cocaine smuggling trial, proceedings are also under way against the group for money laundering before the same court.