Prosecution says officials had ties with drug lord Šarić

BELGRADE Several state officials had meetings with members of runaway drug lord Darko Saric’s gang in 2008 and 2009, Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) has reported. According to an official note of the Criminal Investigations Police Administration, there are 130 CDs containing evidence of the communication between the state officials and Saric’s associates. Prosecution says officials had ties with drug lord Saric The CDs contain evidence of phone calls and other forms of communication between Serbian police (MUP) officials with Rodoljub Radulovic, a member of Saric’s gang. RTS has learnt from the Prosecution and the police that the Special Court’s investigative judge issued an order to wiretap phone calls and other communication and conduct a video surveillance of Radulovic on November 7, 2008. Radulovic is one of the highest-ranking members of the gang. According to several foreign intelligence services, he was in charge of transporting cocaine from South America to Europe. The Serbian Prosecution has indicted him for trafficking of more than 1.8 tons of cocaine. First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed that he has some information about the ties between state officials and members of Saric’s gang. RTS has reported that there are audio recordings of phone calls and meetings between Radulovic and MUP officials. The Prosecution told RTS that a request for collection of information about the suspicious talks would be filed on Monday. The Prosecution also suspects that former interior minister’s Chief of Staff Branko Lazarevic betrayed official secrets. It is expected that Lazarevic will be called for questioning next week, RTS says. Criminologist Zlatko Nikolic told B92 that Saric may have had his insiders, bearing in mind that he had been successfully hiding for years. He noted that the case was difficult, that investigation should not be analyzed in the media and that competent services should conduct the probe Darko Saric (file) B92 RTS Tanjug

Prosecution says officials had ties with drug lord Šarić

The CDs contain evidence of phone calls and other forms of communication between Serbian police (MUP) officials with Rodoljub Radulović, a member of Šarić’s gang.

RTS has learnt from the Prosecution and the police that the Special Court’s investigative judge issued an order to wiretap phone calls and other communication and conduct a video surveillance of Radulović on November 7, 2008. Radulović is one of the highest-ranking members of the gang.

According to several foreign intelligence services, he was in charge of transporting cocaine from South America to Europe.

The Serbian Prosecution has indicted him for trafficking of more than 1.8 tons of cocaine.

First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić has confirmed that he has some information about the ties between state officials and members of Šarić’s gang.

RTS has reported that there are audio recordings of phone calls and meetings between Radulović and MUP officials.

The Prosecution told RTS that a request for collection of information about the suspicious talks would be filed on Monday.

The Prosecution also suspects that former interior minister’s Chief of Staff Branko Lazarević betrayed official secrets.

It is expected that Lazarević will be called for questioning next week, RTS says.

Criminologist Zlatko Nikolić told B92 that Šarić may have had his insiders, bearing in mind that he had been successfully hiding for years.

He noted that the case was difficult, that investigation should not be analyzed in the media and that competent services should conduct the probe