Spanish Authorities Dismantle Cocaine Trafficking Gang with DEA Support

On May 3, 2024, Spanish authorities, with the support of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), dismantled a major cocaine trafficking gang operating from South America. The gang, led by Slobodan Kostovski, a 70-year-old Serbian national, was responsible for shipping large quantities of cocaine from Brazil to Europe.

Why this matters: The dismantling of this cocaine trafficking gang highlights the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking and organized crime, which has significant implications for public health and safety. The success of this operation demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational criminal organizations.

Kostovski, nicknamed "The General," had been living in Brazil for years, establishing strong ties with cocaine producers in neighboring Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. He used fake passports to travel frequently between Brazil and Europe, making it difficult to track his movements. In 2018, Kostovski escaped from a Brazilian prison and returned to Europe, where he resumed his cocaine trafficking activities.

Last August, Kostovski was arrested in Belgrade, accused of shipping 2.7 tons of cocaine from Brazil aboard a 22-meter long ship seized near Spain's Canary Islands. The seizure was part of a coordinated operation that found €550,000 in cash and led to numerous arrests.

Balkan traffickers have mastered the logistics of smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe, dominating the complex logistics of moving cocaine from Andean manufacturing labs to street vendors in major European cities. They have done so by tapping criminal contacts in Balkan diaspora communities on both sides of the Atlantic and infiltrating the maritime shipping system.

The Balkan Cartel is not a monolithic organization, but rather a network of small, mobile, and secretive cells that are capable of moving large loads of cocaine. Authorities say the region's long history of shipping, smuggling, and emigration has been central to the growth of Balkan traffickers. "When we talk about large-scale shipments to supply the European continent, the only group that is hegemonic is the Balkans," said Ivo Silva, a Brazilian federal police detective.

"There is no strict hierarchical structure to the Balkan Cartel... There is no godfather," a former US DEA official explained. "Criminals from the Balkans are more than happy to work with Israelis, Dutch, Swedes, Dominicans, Chinese triads... They will work with anyone."

Cocaine seizures linked to Balkan criminals have surged in recent years. A record 9.11 tonnes of cocaine linked to Balkan criminals was seized at sea last year, a 300% increase since 2015. In the Belgian port of Antwerp, authorities seized a record 116 tonnes of cocaine last year. Dutch customs seized almost 60 tonnes in 2023, nearly a fifth of the 2022 total.

The dismantling of Kostovski's cocaine trafficking gang represents a significant blow to the Balkan Cartel's operations. Spanish authorities, working closely with the DEA, have disrupted a major supply route of cocaine from South America to Europe. However, the adaptability and resilience of Balkan criminal networks suggest that the fight against cocaine trafficking is far from over.

Key Takeaways

• Spanish authorities dismantled a major cocaine trafficking gang led by Slobodan Kostovski, a 70-year-old Serbian national.
• The gang shipped large quantities of cocaine from Brazil to Europe, highlighting the ongoing struggle against drug trafficking.
• Kostovski, nicknamed "The General," had strong ties with cocaine producers in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.
• Balkan traffickers have mastered the logistics of smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe, dominating the complex logistics.
• The dismantling of Kostovski's gang represents a significant blow to the Balkan Cartel's operations, but the fight against cocaine trafficking is far from over.