Goran Gogic, former boxer, charged with trafficking more than $1B in cocaine
According to a report from Reuters, former pro heavyweight boxer Goran Gogic was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday with trafficking 22 tons of cocaine worth over $1 billion.
The report states that Gogic was arrested on Sunday night while trying to board a flight to Zurich from Miami International Airport.
The former pugilist was previously indicted by a grand jury in New York.
Prosecutors have charged the 43-year-old Montenegrin with three counts of violating the federal Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, and one count of conspiracy. Each count carries a mandatory minimum 10-year prison term and possible life sentence. He will have another detention hearing on November 7. The seizure is considered one of the largest in United States history.
The charges date back to 2019, when 22 tons of cocaine from three commercial cargo ships were seized while docked at Philadelphia’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. According to prosecutors, the cocaine was transported to Europe from Colombia using American ports. The scheme used cranes and nets at night to hoist cocaine onto cargo ships.
Gogic oversaw the logistics and coordinated with crew members, Colombian traffickers and European dockworkers, according to court papers.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in Brooklyn called Gogic’s arrest and indictment “a resounding victory for law enforcement.” Larence Hashish, Gogic’s lawyer, said that the charges “came as a surprise to him” and he “maintains his innocence.”
Gogic was a heavyweight boxer from 2001 to 2012, compiling a 21-4-2 record in 27 career boxing matches.
