Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Where Criminals from the Region Most Often Hide

Sanjin Sefić (25), who fled to Serbia after killing two female students at a pedestrian crossing in Sarajevo, used connections similar to those that all fugitives from justice and prison sentences have used in recent years, reports the Patria news agency.

Seeking refuge in the region has proven to be a fairly safe combination, especially for members of organized criminal groups who found logistics with their neighbors, as well as new jobs that enabled them to earn a living for their future life.

Escapes, however, are not reserved only for high-profile underworld names. Ordinary people, often without a criminal record, also made the decision to flee after their first crime, especially those who have relatives or friends in the region where they can hide.

Most of the more serious players have fled to Kosovo for refuge in recent years, but escapes have occurred in all directions towards Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia...

Escape after the murder of Jelena Marjanović

Nebojša Rojko from Borča fled from Serbia in April this year when the police launched a search for the murder of singer Jelena Marjanović. Although he had no connection to this crime, Rojko, known as Vihor, fled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to avoid serving a prison sentence for a previously committed crime. He was arrested in Brčko and handed over to the Serbian police.

Montenegrins most often hide in - Serbia

It is assumed that J. Perović, suspected of killing Dragana Pajović, with whom he was in a romantic relationship, in March last year at the "Apolon" restaurant in Pljevlja, fled to Serbia. The body of the strangled girl was found in a hotel room, and her disappearance was reported by her parents.

Ivan Vujović from Podgorica, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for murder, escaped from prison in Bijelo Polje, and the police believe he fled to Serbia. Vujović had accomplices both inside and outside the prison for his escape.

Goran Dragićević from Pljevlja also fled to Serbia in April this year, after killing his ex-wife Slobodanka Rakočević and her husband Radoša Terzić. In the search for Dragićević, the Montenegrin police found his car in the village of Crni Vrh near the border. The vehicle was parked across the road, and it is assumed that Dragićević illegally entered Serbia. He was later killed in a police operation.

Drug dealer, fans and murderers found refuge in Kosovo

Predrag Vulićević fled from Serbia to avoid a three-year prison sentence for drug smuggling and other criminal acts. He found refuge in Kosovo, where he engaged in distributing heroin. Although he had the protection of powerful friends, he was arrested in Kosovo in March last year during a traffic control. He was in custody in Kosovo but was then released because, as his lawyer claimed, Serbia had not submitted an extradition request.

In 2011, the leaders of the fan group "Alkatraz", Marko I., and a member of that group, M. K., suspected of murdering Ivan Perović from the "Zabranjeni" group, also found refuge in Kosovo.

Filip Vilotijević and Vukašin Smiljanić from Novi Sad also fled to Kosovo after a shooting on May 12, 2011, in which Tamara Radulović was accidentally killed in a cafe on Ada Ciganlija, where her brother was celebrating his child's birthday.

They had a serious "connection" for crossing into Kosovo, so they introduced themselves to the police officers who stopped them with false names. They were allowed to continue their journey and found refuge in Peć. However, the "connection" did not protect them long enough. The Kosovo police arrested them and handed them over to their Serbian colleagues at the administrative crossing of Merdare, from where they were transferred to Belgrade for trial. A month after the verdict, which was two and a half years in prison, Vilotijević was killed in October last year.

Murderer from Brčko spent nine months in Serbia

Mirko Bosnić (24) from Brčko, who is suspected of stabbing fellow citizen Miloš Droca (23) to death together with Goran Ristić in May last year, fled to Serbia after the crime, where he was arrested nine months later. In September 2016, he was extradited from Serbia to the judicial authorities of the Brčko District.

Fan leader hidden in Macedonia

The authorities of Macedonia handed over to Serbia one of the leaders of the fans of Belgrade's "Partizan", Miloš Radisavljević Kimi, who was arrested earlier that day in Skopje. Radisavljević, for whom an international warrant had been issued for avoiding a prison sentence and committing other criminal acts, was arrested in a cafe in Skopje.

(Blic)