Serbia arrested eight people accused of belonging to the so-called “Balkan cartel”, a criminal organization involved in the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine from Ecuador y Brazil. This operation, which also led to the arrest of a Serbian citizen in Guayaquil, is part of a joint effort between Europol and the police forces of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia.
The Prosecutor’s Office Serbia reported that the arrests on its territory were made after an exhaustive investigation. During the searches in several homes, the Police seized weapons, ammunition, luxury vehicles, watches and a significant amount of money, although the authorities did not specify the exact amount, as published EFE.
Among those detained are alleged leaders and operational members of the network, while two other suspects remain at large. The authorities do not rule out more arrests in the coming days.
In Ecuadorthe National Police last week captured a Serbian citizen accused of being part of this organization. This man would have had a key role in sending drug shipments from Ecuadorian ports to Europa. According to the authorities, the detainee was part of the logistical operations of the Balkan cartel, which specializes in introducing cocaine into Europa through sea routes.
The capture of the Serbian in Guayaquil adds to the seizure of 505 kilos of cocaine in March spent in the Croatian port of Ploče. This cache, which had been sent from Ecuador, was one of the most significant blows against this network in recent months.
He balkan cartel has gained notoriety in recent years as one of the most sophisticated and violent criminal organizations in Europe. Its operations span several continents, with special emphasis on South America, where Ecuador y Brazil have become strategic points for cocaine trafficking to Europa. The Police of Ecuador confirmed that the Balkan mafia is one of the three international criminal organizations that operate in the country.
The drugs are usually sent in maritime containers hidden among legal products such as bananas, shrimp or wood, common exports from the ports of Ecuador. European ports, such as Plates in Croatiaare used as gateways for the distribution of narcotics on the continent.
The operation against the Balkan cartel, which involved Europol and to the police forces of several countries, demonstrates the growing need for international cooperation to confront drug trafficking. The Ecuadorian governments, in past statements, have insisted on the need for support between nations, especially when Ecuador – which is facing an unprecedented crisis of violence – has been identified as one of the main starting points for cocaine destined for Europa.
Ecuador has become a nerve center for drug trafficking, attracting the attention of international organizations such as the Balkan cartel. These gangs not only traffic drugs, but also launder assets and extend their influence through violence and corruption. The Serbian detained in Ecuador is being investigated for the alleged crime of money laundering with drug trafficking as a background. Jezdimir S.the citizen serbia mentioned, He had already been convicted of drug trafficking in 2015.
In 2023, Infobae reported how Ecuador became a money laundering center. According to a study by the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime (OECO), the money laundering It is the second expression of organized crime in Ecuador, only surpassed by drug trafficking. Money laundering is understood as the process that allows assets of illicit origin to be integrated into the legal economic system, appearing to have been obtained legally.
Regarding money laundering, the OECS indicates that this crime It concentrates on economic activities related to construction, purchase and sale of real estate and vehicles, pharmacies, restaurants, gas stations and online betting centers.: “Although attendees know the scope of money laundering, the results and investigations into this crime, as well as the interpretation of the norm, translate into a low percentage of convictions, as well as limited articulation between State institutions toward this crime,” is explained.
