U.S. prices former heavyweight boxer with trafficking over $1 billion value of cocaine

The Division of Justice on Monday charged a former skilled heavyweight boxer with trafficking over 20 tons of cocaine value greater than $1 billion by way of U.S. ports, most of which was from what prosecutors in 2019 known as “one of many largest drug seizures in United States historical past.”

Goran Gogic, 43, was arrested Sunday after being indicted by a grand jury in New York, the Justice Division stated in a information launch. Gogic, who’s from Montenegro, was arrested whereas attempting to board a flight at Miami Worldwide Airport.

Gogic was charged with three counts of violating the federal Maritime Drug Regulation Enforcement Act, and one rely of conspiracy. faces a compulsory minimal 10-year sentence and as much as life in jail. 

The fees stem from the three seizures of cocaine, most notably 19.8 tons from a cargo ship whereas it was docked at Philadelphia’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in 2019. On the time, Ivan Durasevic, the ship’s second mate, and Fonofaavae Tiasaga had been arrested within the bust. The ship was on its method to the Netherlands.

Prosecutors allege that Gogic and others used “meticulous planning” to move cocaine to Europe from Colombia by way of U.S. ports, utilizing business cargo ships.

“Members of the conspiracy loaded the business cargo ships at evening close to the coast and ports, working with crewmembers who would hoist a great deal of cocaine from speedboats that approached the ships at a number of factors alongside their route,” prosecutors wrote.

The defendants allegedly loaded the medication utilizing nets and the ship’s cranes. As soon as the cocaine was onboard, the crew would conceal it inside delivery containers, prosecutors stated.

The complicated operation concerned getting access to every ship’s crew, route, real-time positioning and geolocation knowledge, prosecutors stated.

Gogic is accused of orchestrating the operation by coordinating with crew members, Colombian traffickers and European dockworkers.

After the large bust in Philadelphia in 2019, U.S. Legal professional William McSwain tweeted: “This is among the largest drug seizures in United States historical past. This quantity of cocaine may kill thousands and thousands — MILLIONS — of individuals.”

In response to on-line boxing data, the 6 foot 5 inch, 250-pound Gogic competed from 2001 to 2012, profitable 21 fights and shedding 4.

In an announcement, U.S. Legal professional Breon Peace known as Gogic’s arrest and indictment a “physique blow to the group and people accountable for distributing huge portions of cocaine.”