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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Arrest of Saric good news for Serbia, whole region

Belgrade, 18 March 2014

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said today that the arrest of drug lord Darko Saric is another proof of the government's commitment to fight organised crime, adding that it would contribute to the strengthening of credibility and reputation of the Serbian security and justice system.

In a government session open to the media, Dacic said that the government welcomes and is very satisfied with the detention of Darko Saric, and it wants to commend all bodies which invested efforts to this end.

Dacic expressed the belief that the fact that Saric has been brought to justice would contribute to closing the proceedings against his criminal ring and added that it constitutes another proof that the government's commitment to the regional and international cooperation is producing results.

First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that Saric cannot get a witness status, given that he is accused as an organiser of a criminal group.

Vucic said that most deserving for his arrests is a special working group within BIA.

This working group applied the most complex methods and means of locating Saric, he said, explaining that it included secret monitoring in Serbia and abroad for a period of 270 days, and a permanent video surveillance of facilities throughout that period.

He explained that GPS was used to track 15 people in 20 buildings.

Vucic said that more than 20 associates were angaged in Serbia and abroad, noting that at least 15 security services were involved in locating activities.

He pointed out that after locating Darko Saric, his attorney contacted the government on 24 February and offered unconditional surrender of Saric to the Serbian authorities.

According to Vucic, the request was accepted to avoid delays in extradition in order to avoid bloodshed during the arrest.

At the international zone of the airport in Podgorica, Saric saw his son, daughter and wife, who flew to Podgorica airport from a "third country", the First Deputy Prime Minister said. Saric was then taken over by representatives of the Serbian Interior Ministry, he said.

After more than four years on the run Saric is in custody, which is important and good news for Serbia, as well as for the whole region and Europe, Vucic concluded.