BELGRADE, March 17 (Hina) - The Zemun Clan, suspected of assassinating Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic last Wednesday, is also suspected of having been directly linked to Columbia's drug cartel with assistance from the State and
Public Security Service at the time of the Slobodan Milosevic regime, Serbia's interior ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
BELGRADE, March 17 (Hina) - The Zemun Clan, suspected of
assassinating Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic last
Wednesday, is also suspected of having been directly linked to
Columbia's drug cartel with assistance from the State and Public
Security Service at the time of the Slobodan Milosevic regime,
Serbia's interior ministry said in a statement on Sunday. #L#
Between Wednesday and Sunday 318 people have been arrested in
Serbia in connection with the assassination, of whom 190 in
Belgrade. Four persons who requested protected witness status have
confirmed the Zemun Clan's connection with Columbia's drugs
bosses, the statement said.
A 30-day detention has been set for 307 of the 318 arrested, in line
with the introduction of a state of emergency in the country. A
large quantity of firearms, tear-gas, explosive devices, several
kilograms of drugs, forged documents and false licence plates,
stolen cars and various communication devices were found in their
possession, read the statement.
In statements to a special prosecutor, the four persons who
requested witness protection have confirmed founded suspicions
that the Zemun drugs cartel, with the help of Serbia's State and
Public Security Service at the time of the Milosevic regime, took
part in assassinations and organised drug trade, and was directly
linked to Columbia's drugs cartel via the European network of
dealers.
The interior ministry statement said these people continued with
their activities even after the October 2000 change of authority in
Serbia, dealing mostly in kidnappings and drug trafficking. They
are also responsible for more than 50 murders. With the help of
informers in the police and state security, they avoided getting
arrested and often turned investigations in the wrong direction.
They used pressure and bribes to stall and halt many criminal
proceedings against them, thus continuing with their criminal
activities.
Electronic media continue to repeat the police's appeal to citizens
to report anything they might notice in connection with those the
interior ministry marked as suspects or accessories in the Djindjic
assassination.
(hina) ha