Vuk Vulleviq, a citizen of Montenegro wanted under an Interpol Red Notice, was arrested on July 12 at a venue in Belgrade, Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) announced.
“During the arrest, he was found in possession of falsified personal documents issued in Kosovo. Upon the order of the competent prosecutor’s office, criminal proceedings will be initiated against him on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of document forgery,” the Serbian Interior Ministry said, according to Radio Free Europe’s Balkan Service.
Serbian authorities said that Interpol in Podgorica had issued an international arrest warrant for Vulleviq over suspected involvement in organized crime, as well as the production, possession, and illegal trafficking of narcotics.
A separate arrest warrant had also been issued by the Special Department for Organized Crime of the Higher Court in Belgrade, related to the criminal offenses for which he is wanted by Montenegrin authorities.
Police confiscated two mobile phones during the arrest and informed the Third Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade.
Vulleviq is expected to be transferred to the Special Department for Organized Crime of the Higher Court in Belgrade.
Montenegrin police are seeking him on suspicion of being part of an organized criminal group led by Vaso Uliqi and Radoje Zvicer.
In July 2024, Montenegro’s Special State Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against 19 people suspected of organizing an international criminal group involved in the smuggling of around 2.5 tons of cocaine.
Nine suspected members of the group were arrested in July 2024, while other suspects remain at large.
Montenegrin authorities were supported in the operation, codenamed “General,” by Europol, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Australian Federal Police.
Montenegro’s Special Prosecutor’s Office identified Radoje Zvicer, considered the leader of the “Kavač” criminal clan, and Vaso Uliqi as the alleged heads of the group.
Among those wanted and still at large was Vuk Vulleviq, alongside Zvicer.
Previously, Vulleviq had been accused of cocaine smuggling from Venezuela and the 2005 murder of police inspector Slavoljub Šćekić, but he was acquitted of those charges.
Montenegrin police have also previously mentioned him as a person suspected in the killing of Dan newspaper editor-in-chief Duško Jovanović, although no criminal proceedings were initiated against him in that case.
