The Justice Department has charged former professional boxer Goran Gogic, 43, with smuggling more than 20 tons of cocaine worth more than $1 billion through U.S. ports. Gozik was arrested Sunday after being indicted by a grand jury in New York, according to a Justice Department press release.
Prosecutors called the seizure “one of the largest drug seizures in US history.”
Gogic, from Montenegro, tried to board a plane at Miami International Airport before being arrested. He was charged with three counts of violations of federal law enforcing the Maritime Drug Enforcement Act and one count of conspiracy. Gogic faces a mandatory 10-year sentence and could face life in prison if convicted on all charges, he reported CBS News.
The charges relate to three seizures of cocaine in 2019, including the seizure of 19.8 tons of drugs from a Dutch-bound cargo ship docked at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia. At the time, only the ship’s second officer, Ivan Durasevic, and his Fonofaavae Tiasaga were arrested.
Prosecutors allege Gogic and everyone involved used “meticulous planning” to transport cocaine from Colombia to Europe via U.S. ports on cargo ships.
Prosecutors stated.”Members of the conspiracy loaded the commercial cargo ships at night near the coast and ports, working with crewmembers who would hoist loads of cocaine from speed boats that approached the ships at multiple points along their route.”
The cocaine was allegedly loaded with nets and ship cranes. Once on board, prosecutors allege that the crew has hidden drugs in shipping containers. Gogic is said to have coordinated operations with several others, including Colombian drug traffickers and European dockers.
Gogic was an active boxer from 2001 to 2012, with a career record of 21-4.
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