Pekić, the Cicmil brothers, police officer Backović and others before the Court on February 18th

The High Court has scheduled the start of the trial against businessman Saša Pekić, police officer Dragan Backović, and brothers Petar and Mirko Cicmil, whom the Special State Prosecutor’s Office accuses of leading criminal groups involved in cigarette smuggling, for February 18th. The defendants will be tried by a criminal panel presided over by Judge Branislav Leković.

In addition to Pekić, Backović, and the Cicmil brothers, the indictment also includes Goran Janketić, Nikola Glomazić and Srđan Jokić, as well as Backović’s colleagues - police officers Predrag Vučurović and Predrag Mijušković.

The Special State Prosecutor’s Office previously announced that these two groups allegedly damaged the state budget by at least 17,5 million euros through cigarette smuggling.

- Evidence collected during the preliminary inquiry and investigation indicates that both criminal organizations, from late 2019 until March 2021, smuggled at least 22.539 packages of non-customs-cleared cigarettes of various brands and caused damage to the budget of at least 17.551.143 euros due to unpaid taxes, customs duties, and other charges - the SSPO previously stated.

In addition to cigarette smuggling, the prosecution charges Backović and Jokić with money laundering, while the police officers are also suspected of abuse of official position.

According to the SSPO, members of Pekić’s group included Jokić, Janketić, Backović, and other unidentified persons, while members of the Cicmil brothers’ and Backović’s group included Vučurović, Mijušković, Glomazić, and other unidentified persons as well.

Pekić’s group allegedly cooperated with Backović and Cicmil. The prosecution claims that Pekić’s group allegedly procured non-customs-cleared cigarettes and sold them to Backović, Cicmil, and other unidentified buyers, who then allegedly sold them in Bosnia and Herzegovina.