Delegacija

MCC · May 7

Clean Life?

“They’ll all say: ‘He got what was coming to him.’ Live the way it suits you and how you like it, while you still can, reads the “about me” section on the Facebook profile of Nikša Velimirović, whose influence and ties in the underworld are often linked to well-known criminal groups from the Balkans. According to available information, Velimirović is a close associate of numerous influential criminals from the region, and his circle includes individuals with extensive criminal records and military experience. Although investigations against him began even before 2021, Velimirović fled to America, where he has been living a "clean" life since 2020.

Right Hand?

Alongside Nikša Velimirović, the biggest authority in his group is undoubtedly Rade Divac, the godfather of well-known cocaine trafficker Milorad Bogovac, a.k.a. “Mad Milo.” Rade Divac quickly earned a reputation as one of the most ruthless figures from the former Dušković connection. He began his career in America as a nightclub bouncer, where he gathered a crew of young Balkan men who kept the nightlife in Los Santos under control. His potential did not go unnoticed, and he soon found himself in the circle of Nikša Velimirović, for whom he later distributed drugs and weapons.

Who's Really Involved?

Gavrilo and the Kavač Clan Gavrilo Kostić, a member of the Kavač clan, was known for planning the assassinations of rival Škaljarski Klan members. Although not widely exposed in the media, security services link him to multiple attempted hits on key figures from the opposing group. Police investigations connected him to organizing armed conflicts and attempted murders as part of the long-standing feud between the two clans over territorial control in Los Santos. Kostić was, according to reports, one of the key players on the Kavač side in this clash. His connection to Nikša Velimirović would prove crucial in the near future.

Always Present, Never Changed

While the public remains focused on prominent figures such as Nikša Velimirović, Gavrilo Kostić, and Rade Divac, law enforcement agencies are increasingly turning their attention to a wider circle of individuals-men whose official records are mostly clean, yet whose names repeatedly surface in surveillance reports, border control logs, and witness statements.

Three such names stand out in particular: Đuro Kašćelan, Milan Cakić, and Veljko Grubor - men with different backgrounds but a common thread: quiet yet persistent presence around the most influential Balkan figures in America.

Đuro Kašćelan is known as the personal security detail for Nikša Velimirović. His presence alongside the group’s leader has been documented on multiple occasions, especially during high-pressure situations, suggesting a high level of trust. So far, there are no formal charges or evidence indicating his direct involvement in criminal activity.

Milan Cakić, a former amateur boxer from Podgorica, appears to be part of the broader environment surrounding Velimirović. His ties to key segments of the group’s structure make him a recurring name in federal agency reports, particularly in relation to travel surveillance and social contacts at high-profile events. While he has not been formally charged, a senior analyst from a federal task force stated: “They are not suspects, but they are always present. That alone is enough to draw additional attention.”

Within that same circle, Veljko Grubor occupies a distinct and more isolated position. Unlike Kašćelan and Cakić, who are closely linked to Velimirović, Grubor has a longstanding association with Rade Divac, a former member of the Dušković connection. His role goes beyond logistics or security-investigative sources describe him as an “informal intermediary” who has previously been connected to incidents with legal consequences, although not to a degree that would lead to formal criminal charges.

Edited May 29 by MCC

MCC · May 7

The Balkan Underworld: How the Kavač and Škaljari Clan War Began

Montenegro currently grapples with 20 active organized crime groups, a significant reduction from 35 in 2011. However, the nation faces a severe issue: in the past two years, along with Serbia, it's become a hotspot for numerous murders tied to conflicts between Montenegrin criminal groups and their regional associates. The public rarely discusses these events, fueling the perception that Montenegro has become a logistical hub for crime.

The war between Montenegrin clans, raging since February, has claimed 50 lives so far. This brutal conflict erupted between two criminal factions that once operated as a single entity, all because 200 kilograms of cocaine went missing in Valencia.

These violent killings weren't confined to Montenegro; they spread to Serbia, neighboring countries, and even across the European Union. The victims of this war aren't just the criminals themselves. Family members, innocent bystanders, and anyone who dared to interfere with the operations of the so-called Škaljari and Kavač clans have also fallen prey to the violence.

Attempted Murder of Miloš Čabarkapa in Vračar

The Higher Court in Belgrade suspects Gavrilo Kostić of attempting to murder Miloš Čabarkapa, leader of the Škaljari clan, in October 2015. Kostić, believed to have led the operation, allegedly tried to kill Čabarkapa outside a Belgrade police station. He is suspected of acting on his own plan, with the assistance of Marko Kovačević and Aleksandar Petrović. Corrupt police officers Stefan Jovanović and Nikola Petrović were also allegedly part of the group.

The prosecution states that Kostić, motivated by revenge and a desire for dominance, waited for Čabarkapa outside the police station in Belgrade on October 21, 2015. He was armed with a pistol, intending to kill Čabarkapa during his apprehension. Police officers thwarted Kostić's attempt by taking him into custody.

Criminal proceedings against Gavrilo Kostić, as well as accomplices Marko Kovačević and Aleksandar Petrović, were unlawfully dismissed by rulings from the Higher Court in Belgrade and the Appellate Court in Belgrade.

The Kavač Clan in Los Santos and the Connection to Gavrilo Kostić

The Kavač Clan, known for its brutality and trafficking of drugs and weapons, expanded from Europe into Los Santos. Around October 2015, Gavrilo Kostić attempted to assassinate Miloš Čabarkapa, the leader of the Škaljari Clan, in Belgrade. After the failed hit, Kostić fled to Los Santos. It is suspected that he acted on his own initiative, supported by Marko Kovačević and Aleksandar Petrović, with the group also including corrupt LSPD detectives John Smith and Mike Johnson.

At approximately the same time, around 2015, the Kavač Clan in Los Santos became a target of the Los Santos Police Department (LSPD), leading to frequent raids and surveillance. That same year, the Kavač Clan leaders ordered the assassination of detective Antonio "Tony" Rosso, who had frequent confrontations with clan members. Detective Rosso was murdered in an exclusive hotel in Glen Park.

The organization is directly linked to Vasilije Ostojić and Matija Raičković, the godfathers who ran the Kavač branch in Los Santos. Both disappeared in May 2021, and it is suspected they left the country. Vasilije Ostojić is charged with orchestrating a massive real estate fraud operation throughout Los Santos. He is also identified as the person who ordered the assassination of detective Antonio "Tony" Rosso, with whom he had a conflict around 2015. After Vasilije’s disappearance, Gavrilo Kostić assumed his position and became the de facto leader of the Kavač Clan's operations in Los Santos.