Extradition and Charges
A Montenegrin man, nicknamed the “pirate of the unknown,” has been extradited to New York City from Italy to face charges related to an international drug trafficking conspiracy. Milos Radonjic, 34, arrived in Brooklyn on Friday and is set to be arraigned in federal court on Monday. The charges stem from an alleged plot to transport tons of cocaine around the world, U.S. authorities announced.
Indictment and Conspiracy Details
Radonjic and several others were indicted by a federal grand jury last year on charges of conspiracy and attempting to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. According to court documents, Radonjic was a high-ranking member of a transnational drug organization. This group reportedly used commercial cargo ships, some registered for delivering goods to the U.S., to transport cocaine from South America to Europe for Balkan drug cartels. Crew members of these ships were allegedly aware of and involved in the trafficking activities.
Trafficking Operations
The organization is accused of using speed boats to deliver cocaine at night to cargo ships on the high seas near Colombia and Ecuador. This method allowed the smugglers to evade detection and facilitate the large-scale transportation of narcotics.
Impact on Drug Crisis
U.S. prosecutors emphasized that Radonjic and his associates contributed to the ongoing overdose and drug addiction crisis in the United States and globally. In their request to detain Radonjic pending trial, prosecutors highlighted the significant impact of the trafficked narcotics.
Legal and Law Enforcement Responses
Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, underscored the commitment to enforcing the rule of law on the high seas. “This arrest and successful extradition is a lesson that the high seas are not a no-man’s land for the rule of law, and that we are committed to bringing those who violate it to justice,” Peace stated.
Arrest and Extradition
Radonjic was apprehended in October after traveling to Italy to captain a yacht in an international race. His arrest and subsequent extradition are seen as significant victories in the fight against international drug trafficking. As of Saturday, Radonjic had not yet been assigned an attorney.
