Belgrade is back in the spotlight, but not for its tourist attractions or summer heat. This time, it’s for massive arrests in a huge money laundering investigation! A special anti-corruption unit of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade launched an investigation against 21 people suspected of committing ten criminal offenses of money laundering. Eleven have already been arrested, while the rest are still on the run. Among those detained are D.Š, S.S, S.L, V.R, P.D, D.Lj, B.L, A.Ž, R.I, M.N, and N.Ž, all questioned by the public prosecutor. The prosecution has proposed pre-trial detention for eight suspects due to flight risk, witness tampering, and the possibility of reoffending.
The suspects allegedly used fake contracts, mostly in the names of elderly people, to register cadastral parcels in several central city municipalities of Belgrade. They then transferred ownership of these properties among themselves through fictitious transactions, changing the form of assets to conceal the illegal origin of the money. It is suspected that the money was further invested in the construction sector and real estate market. In cooperation with the financial investigation unit, assets worth around 5 million euros have been frozen, including about a thousand square meters of apartments and other real estate in Belgrade, 20 vehicles, and luxury watches.
This investigation sheds light on the dark side of Belgrade’s real estate and construction market, where money is laundered through fake contracts and sham transactions. While citizens feel the daily impact of the economic crisis, scandals like this reveal how deeply corruption and crime are rooted in the system. And while the authorities try to show they are fighting corruption, these actions prove the problem is far from solved.
At the same time, Belgrade faces other issues — traffic blockades caused by so-called ‘blockaders,’ who create chaos and frustration among citizens. Although their numbers are small, they manage to paralyze traffic at key points like Vidikovac, where a traffic collapse occurred this morning. Buses are stuck, people are late for work, and the police are trying to maintain order and arrest offenders. These blockades have become a daily nuisance, making life in the capital even harder.
All in all, this summer Belgrade is not just a city of fun and tourism but a battleground of crime, corruption, and civil unrest. While the government tries to appear effective, citizens suffer the consequences. Will the situation change, or will we keep watching money laundering, traffic chaos, and ordinary people paying the price? Drop your thoughts — maybe you’ve got the fix for this mess!
