The organization of Darko Saric, now a fugitive from Serbian justice, has funnelled 1.3 billion euros to Serbia, but may have amassed up to 5 billion, a source close to the massive investigation said.

Saric and his companions laundered the narcotics money through companies in Serbia, Montenegro and “some Western European countries,” the report said.

The powerful crime clan, said to be one of the major cocaine suppliers in Europe, was involved in the attempt to smuggle 2.7 tons of cocaine to Europe in the autumn.

The shipment was stopped in Uruguay in an international police raid, but it is estimated that many more have made it to their destination.

Saric, his brother, and other suspected leaders of the organization disappeared in Montenegro after that raid, spearheaded by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.

Their flight drew accusations from Belgrade, where leading politicians accused their counterparts of links with organized crime.