Danube Mafia in Belgrade! 7 people arrested for smuggling fuel by transferring it from foreign ships

Photo: Milena Djordjevic

In a large and coordinated operation carried out by the Department of Internal Control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, an organized criminal group that was involved in the illegal smuggling of excise goods was broken up in Belgrade today.

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Seven people ended up behind bars on suspicion that for they for months ravaged foreign ships sailing along the Danube and created a "black market" of oil in improvised warehouses.

Who has been arrested?

By order of the prosecution, the following persons were arrested: I.R., D.R., R.Z., D.J., N.DJ., S.B. and V.T.

They are charged with the criminal offenses of association for the purpose of committing criminal offenses and the extended criminal offense of illegal circulation of excise goods.

According to official data from the investigation, this group acted according to a pre-prepared plan in the territory of Belgrade in the period from August 2025 until today. Members of the group approached foreign ships sailing on the Danube, and then transferred huge amounts of eurodiesel from them. They poured the fuel directly into large plastic containers that were masked beforehand in cargo vehicles.

After the successful transfer, the fuel was transported to improvised storage facilities in secret locations. From there, they released it into circulation without authorization, without paying taxes and excise duties, which resulted in as yet undetermined but enormous illegal financial gains.

The seven-member crew will be brought directly to the premises of the Public Prosecutor's Office for organized crime along with the criminal complaint where they will be questioned.

(Telegraf.rs)