The allegations about a “drug war” between British gangs in Croatia has attracted the attention of the British authorities.
On Friday, the Zadar County Court ordered an investigative remand detention for the 25-year-old British national Douglas Cane, who is suspected of a murder and attempted murder of his compatriots in front of a nightclub at Zrće beach. The one-month investigative remand detention was decreed due to the danger of escaping and influencing the witnesses and tampering with the evidence, reports Večernji List on July 1, 2018.
One Croatian policeman who saw the video from surveillance cameras which captured the killing at Zrće described what he witnesses. “He stabbed the victims with his knife at such speed that it was shocking. I have never seen such brutality and coolness. I am sure he has experience in using knives,” said the police officer.
The second police source said that British police officers could soon arrive in Croatia to help investigate allegations about a drug war between British criminal groups at Zrće beach on the island of Pag. In addition to Zrće, the investigation could also include Tisno on the island of Murter. The amount of drugs consumed every year during local festivals of electronic music, like this year’s Hideout which was visited by more than 15,000 partygoers, is huge and additional operations by the Croatian police are expected soon.
Judicial sources say that the British authorities might soon demand the extradition of the suspected killer.
The murder of one and attempted murders of two more British citizens at Zrće were also reported by the English media, mainly because of the speculation that the rampant conflicts between criminal groups about drug trading territory have moved from London to Zrće for the summer.
Ugo Williams, who was allegedly killed by Cane, was himself known for his criminal activities. Several years ago he was convicted of robberies in London. In addition to Williams, Cane stabbed Miles Lawrence from London five times in the chest and belly, but he was rescued by doctors at the Zadar hospital. Daniel P. H., a 21-year-old British national, suffered minor injuries.
Ten people were held for interrogation by the police. One British national was initially suspected of using his motorcycle to help the fugitive killer, but it was later determined that he knew the killer and offered him a lift without knowing about the murder and two attempted murders.
Translated from Večernji List (reported by Frane Šarić).
