The Saric drug gang trial began at the Special Court in Belgrade on Friday.

The trial will merge several indictments, charging members of the gang with trafficking of more than 3 tons of cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe during 2008 and 2009.

The main hearing started with reading of the indictment, after which the defendants will be asked to enter pleas.
Out of a total of 22 suspects, 8 are on the run, including Saric, a criminal of Montenegrin origin.

Seven men have already been convicted, after reaching an agreement with the prosecutor's office for organized crime, under which they have entered a guilty plea in exchange for 4-10 years in prison, while two are still negotiating the agreement.

Three of Saric's accomplices secured the status of associate witness.

The police lost track of the most wanted drug lord from Serbia Darko Saric in October 2009, during the operation dubbed “Balkan Warrior” which was taking place in Uruguay and Belgrade.

The Saric group is charged with the illegal trade in cocaine, laundering of the money thus acquired, which was then pumped into legal flows of the Serbian economy during the privatization process.