"Montenegrin crime clans waging war in Belgrade"

A murder last week of a "controversial businessman", and the setting on fire of a Ferrari on Monday suggest that Montenegrin crime gangs are engaged in "war". The Belgrade-based tabloid Press writes that the Ferrari set on fire in a Belgrade garage belonged to 42-year-old Montenegrin Milan Kalostrovic. His compatriot who was killed last week when an explosive device was detonated in his car has been identified as Bosko Raicevic. "Montenegrin crime clans waging war in Belgrade" Raicevic is a cousin of Andrija Draskovic - another Belgrade-based "controversial businessman" - and of former Montenegrin PM and President Milo Djukanovic. Draskovic is currently serving time in a Serbian prison for the murder of a member of the so-called Surcin Clan crime gang. "The background of the murder is still unknown, because the investigation is in its infancy, but it's almost certain that this is about a war between Montenegrin clans," a source told the newspaper, commenting on the Raicevic case. "It's no coincidence that Montenegrin Bosko Raicevic was killed in a bomb attack three days ago. His murder it typical of their showdowns, just as is the attack on Kalostrovic. This is not the first time that the Montenegrin mafia has been resolving its conflicts in Belgrade". The same source, however, noted that so far there has been no evidence suggesting that the two incidents were directly connected, and added: "The fact is that Raicevic used to be in the restaurant business, as was Kalostrovic, who is also in real estate. The fact that the owner of the Ferrari is currently in Montenegro and that we cannot obtain his statement is making the investigation more difficult." In 2003, Kalostrovic was brought in for questioning before the Higher Court in Podgorica on suspicion that he tried to murder Milan Brezanin, whom he shot three times. The Ferrari owner's name cropped up in the media again last year in connection to allegations of fraud related to the acquisition of an attractive plot of land on the Montenegrin seaside, that was owned by British citizen Branislav Sudjic. Former State Security (DS) operative Bozidar Spasic - nowadays owner of a private detective agency - told the newspaper that he was convinced the recent incidents in Belgrade showed that the Montenegrin mafia was at war in the Serbian capital city: "As a rule a war starts in early summer, because whatever cooks up during the winter in Podgorica, Herceg Novi and Budva, gets resolved in the streets of Belgrade. It's much easier to cross the border now with all the tourists around and reach Belgrade unnoticed. It's also possible that the attackers did not come directly from Montenegro, but that they were in Belgrade awaiting their orders, and for weapons, explosives and fake documents to be smuggled in. In any case, these two events are a wake up call for our police to do something." Regardless of the fact that no direct connection has yet been made between the two incidents, Spasic believes that it is obvious that "punitive groups have arrived in Belgrade, carrying out their orders from Podgorica". The car of Bosko Raicevic is seen after last week's bomb attack in Belgrade (Tanjug) Press

"Montenegrin crime clans waging war in Belgrade"

Raičević is a cousin of Andrija Drašković - another Belgrade-based "controversial businessman" - and of former Montenegrin PM and President Milo Đukanović.

Drašković is currently serving time in a Serbian prison for the murder of a member of the so-called Surčin Clan crime gang.

"The background of the murder is still unknown, because the investigation is in its infancy, but it's almost certain that this is about a war between Montenegrin clans," a source told the newspaper, commenting on the Raičević case. "It's no coincidence that Montenegrin Boško Raičević was killed in a bomb attack three days ago. His murder it typical of their showdowns, just as is the attack on Kaloštrović. This is not the first time that the Montenegrin mafia has been resolving its conflicts in Belgrade".

The same source, however, noted that so far there has been no evidence suggesting that the two incidents were directly connected, and added:

"The fact is that Raičević used to be in the restaurant business, as was Kaloštrović, who is also in real estate. The fact that the owner of the Ferrari is currently in Montenegro and that we cannot obtain his statement is making the investigation more difficult."

In 2003, Kaloštrović was brought in for questioning before the Higher Court in Podgorica on suspicion that he tried to murder Milan Brežanin, whom he shot three times.

The Ferrari owner's name cropped up in the media again last year in connection to allegations of fraud related to the acquisition of an attractive plot of land on the Montenegrin seaside, that was owned by British citizen Branislav Suđić.

Former State Security (DS) operative Božidar Spasić - nowadays owner of a private detective agency - told the newspaper that he was convinced the recent incidents in Belgrade showed that the Montenegrin mafia was at war in the Serbian capital city:

"As a rule a war starts in early summer, because whatever cooks up during the winter in Podgorica, Herceg Novi and Budva, gets resolved in the streets of Belgrade. It's much easier to cross the border now with all the tourists around and reach Belgrade unnoticed. It's also possible that the attackers did not come directly from Montenegro, but that they were in Belgrade awaiting their orders, and for weapons, explosives and fake documents to be smuggled in. In any case, these two events are a wake up call for our police to do something."

Regardless of the fact that no direct connection has yet been made between the two incidents, Spasić believes that it is obvious that "punitive groups have arrived in Belgrade, carrying out their orders from Podgorica".