Montenegro police arrest alleged drug trafficking leader

PODGORICA, Montenegro – Police in Montenegro say they have arrested a suspected drug lord accused of smuggling narcotics to Australia.

A statement says the 58-year-old man identified only as “V.U.” is from the capital of Podgorica and was arrested on Tuesday as the result of a joint investigation with Australian authorities.

Montenegrin police say the suspect is accused of being the leader of a criminal organization who has organized smuggling of large quantities of drugs to Australia from other countries. They say the investigation has also resulted in the arrest of four other gang members who already were convicted and sentenced to prison terms in Australia.

Montenegrin media have identified the suspect as Vaso Ulic. Police say he will be handed over to the state prosecutor Wednesday.