Ratko Mladic, wanted for genocide during the Bosnian war in the 1990s, has been arrested in Serbia.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said the process to extradite the former Bosnian Serb army chief to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague was under way.

Gen Mladic is accused over the massacre of at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995.

He was the most prominent Bosnian war crimes suspect at large since the arrest of Radovan Karadzic in 2008.

The detention, the Serbian leader said, closed one chapter in Serbian history, bringing the country and the region closer to reconciliation.

It also opened the doors to membership of the European Union, he added.

Serbian media initially reported that Mr Mladic was already on his way to the Hague, but Serbian prosecutors later said the procedure to extradite him might take a week.


It is hard to overstate the importance of this arrest here in Serbia. Many people feel the destiny of their country was held hostage by Ratko Mladic. Their hopes of joining the EU were ruled out by Brussels while Mladic was at large.

I asked President Tadic if it was a coincidence that he was arrested while the EU was considering Serbia's bid to join the bloc. He said the country had never calculated its search for Mladic - it was always determined to catch him.

There is still an ultra-nationalist fringe here who see Mladic as a hero - they say he only ever defended Serb interests. But the new, emerging generation in Serbia seem to be tired of the past and its wars - they want to leave that behind and move forward to the future.

A spokeswoman for families of Srebrenica victims, Hajra Catic, told AFP news agency: "After 16 years of waiting, for us, the victims' families, this is a relief."

UN war crimes chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz welcomed the arrest, saying: "Today's events show that people responsible for grave violations of international humanitarian law can no longer count on impunity."

In other reaction:

US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the US was "delighted"
UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox said it was a chance for Serbians to "close a very unhappy chapter in their history"
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the arrest finally offered "a chance for justice to be done"
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Serbia's EU prospects were "now brighter than ever"


1995: Gen Mladic indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes
October 2000: Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic ousted and arrested the following year; Gen Mladic, believed to be living in Serbia, disappears from view
April 2005: Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic says Serbian security agents knew Gen Mladic's whereabouts; the intelligence agency describes the allegations as "ridiculous"
February 2006: Chief UN prosecutor demands Serbia step up the hunt for Gen Mladic and says the failure to arrest him will harm Serbia's EU membership chances
July 2008: Gen Mladic's mentor, Bosnian Serb former political leader Radovan Karadzic, captured
October 2010: Serbia offers 10m euros (£8.7m) for information leading to Gen Mladic's capture and arrest
Ratko Mladic's very personal war
UK hails 'historic' Mladic arrest
Gen Mladic was said by Serbian media to have been arrested in Vojvodina, a northern province of Serbia, in the early hours of Thursday.

President Tadic would only confirm he had been arrested "on Serbian soil", adding that details of the arrest would be released once an investigation had been completed.

Gen Mladic had reportedly been using the assumed name Milorad Komodic.

Serbian security sources told AFP that three special units had descended on a house in the village of Lazarevo, about 80km (50 miles) north of Belgrade.

The house was owned by a relative of Gen Mladic and had been under surveillance for the past two weeks, one of the sources added.

Gen Mladic was indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague in 1995 for genocide over the killings that July at Srebrenica - the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II - and other crimes.

Having lived freely in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, he disappeared after the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2001.

Speculation mounted that Gen Mladic would eventually be arrested when Mr Karadzic was captured in Belgrade in July 2008.

Larry Hollingworth, a logistics officer with the UN refugee agency who regularly met Gen Mladic during the Bosnian war, said he was "absolutely delighted" by news of the arrest.


"He was a very, very imposing figure and managed to frighten a lot of people - certainly those who worked for him," he told BBC Radio 4.

'Unimaginable horrors'
Just before news of Thursday's arrest, Mr Brammertz had accused Serbia of failing to do enough to find Gen Mladic.

"Until now efforts by Serbia to detain fugitives have not been sufficient," he said in a report sent to the UN Security Council.

President Tadic rejected criticism that Serbia had only taken action following international pressure.

"It is crystal clear that we did not calculate when we had to arrest Ratko Mladic," he told the news conference on Thursday.

Srebrenica falls to Bosnian Serbs - archive BBC report from 1995
"We have been co-operating with the Hague Tribunal fully from the beginning of the mandate of this government."

Speaking after the arrest, Mr Brammertz said UN prosecutors recognised the work done by the Serbian authorities and thanked them for "meeting their obligations towards the tribunal and towards justice".

"With the news of the arrest, we think first and foremost of the victims of the crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia," he added.

"These victims have endured unimaginable horrors - including the genocide in Srebrenica - and redress for their suffering is long overdue," the war crimes prosecutor said.

Fugitive arrested after falling through ceiling with police dog

Sacramento police chased and arrested a man after he fled when officers approached a group of six in Oak Park.
Police approached the group near 14th Avenue and La Solidad Way, police reported.

When one subject fled, police chased him behind a house described in the official activity log as "a known gang hangout."

After finding a loaded gun on the ground, officers entered the house with a search dog.

The dog went into the attic pursuing the subject and both the K9 and its quarry fell through the ceiling.

Neither was injured.

The subject, who was not named, was taken into custody on suspicion of gun violations and resisting arrest.

 

U.S. Marshals Service announced the capture today in Chicago of a 15 Most Wanted fugitive sought on a number of violent criminal charges

The U.S. Marshals Service announced the capture today in Chicago of a 15 Most Wanted fugitive sought on a number of violent criminal charges stemming from an incident in Las Vegas in August 2007.

Robert Jackson, a 25-year-old gang member, was wanted on a warrant out of Clark County, Nev., for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, attempted murder with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon with substantial bodily harm, battery with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal gang and ex-felon possession of a firearm.

He was added to the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted list in February.

In Chicago today, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force investigators observed a person matching Jackson's description and an unknown female exit a residence and get into a vehicle.  The task force stopped the vehicle and positively identified Jackson, taking him into custody without incident. 

Jackson was wanted for an incident in August 2007, when a fistfight broke out between rival gangs "Squad Up" and "Wood" in front of a bar on the Las Vegas Strip. A Squad Up gang member, identified as Jackson, allegedly fired five rounds from a 9 mm handgun at Wood gang members.

The gunfire missed the rival gang members and instead struck four innocent tourists.

"Jackson's callous indifference as to who may suffer because of his violent, reckless behavior made his apprehension essential," said Director Stacia A. Hylton of the U.S. Marshals Service. "I appreciate the exceptional effort of all involved in capturing this criminal and making him answer for this horrific crime."

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department contacted the U.S. Marshals District of Nevada Fugitive Investigative Strike Team-Las Vegas Division in November 2007 for assistance in locating and apprehending Jackson.

The District of Nevada's extensive investigation recently yielded information leading them to believe Jackson was residing in Chicago.

This information was immediately provided to the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, and their investigators were successful in locating and arresting Jackson within four days, thereby capping a four-year, multi-state, multi-agency investigation.

District of Nevada U.S. Marshal Christopher Hoye said, "This arrest once again shows the responsiveness and efficiency of the network of U.S. Marshals Service task forces across the country."

Viktor Bout’s case is an attempt by US authorities to prove that the interests of their country prevail over those of every other state.

Viktor Bout’s case is an attempt by US authorities to prove that the interests of their country prevail over those of every other state. This is how Bout’s lawyer Albert Dayan has described the process in an exclusive interview for the Voice of Russia.

Bout’s case is a real hodge-podge of inconsistencies and violations of the laws of several countries, the lawyer insists. His client was arrested in Thailand in the course of talks on a deal that US authorities considered criminal under US law, overlooking the fact that Bout was detained in a country with laws that differ from American legal norms, notes Albert Dayan:

"The US prosecution says that the deal that Viktor was discussing at the point of his arrest was criminal under US laws. However under Thai and Russian laws, this deal does not constitute a crime."

Recall that US law enforcement officers made contact with Viktor Bout in Thailand while posing as members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC who were seeking to source surface-to-air missiles, which they said would be used against American citizens. All arguments as to the absence of a crime and unproven intent are not being considered, the lawyer notes:

"The prosecution argues that the fact that Viktor took part in such talks is quite enough to convict him of conspiracy to kill Americans. As I now understand, the prosecution never intended to verify whether Viktor would actually sell the weapons. Viktor’s real intentions were of no interest to prosecutors, both before and after his arrest."

The desire to prove their rightness at any cost pushes legal norms into the background. The US government has given itself the right to arrest a foreign citizen who has never been to the US in a country where he did not commit any crimes, the lawyer reminds. Subsequently, the court had just one task – to make Bout the accused at any cost, Albert Dayan concludes:

"Everything in Viktor Bout’s case ran counter to common logic from the very beginning. Usually, the way it goes is someone commits a crime and the police start looking for the culprit. It’s the other way around here. Law enforcers conceived a crime that would fit a particular person. The US never had any proof that Viktor was conspiring to kill Americans. Thus US law enforcers decided to create a situation, a trap of sorts, which Viktor could fall into while talking with the US agents. The conversation was being recorded and this now forms the basis of the prosecution’s evidence."

At first, it is unclear why the law is being so stubbornly side-stepped in Bout’s case. But everything falls into place when you take into consideration that US law is based on precedent. This means that after convicting Viktor Bout once, the US will be able to use similar mechanisms with respect to citizens of other countries, warns Albert Dayan:

"Every new ruling creates a new precedent. The precedent that this case would create, if it is ruled that Viktor’s case may be considered in the US, would be extremely negative for the world. Having such a precedent would pave the way for the US to legally enforce a completely totalitarian approach to its jurisdiction on a global scale. US special services will be able to arrest any person who falls out of favour with the US anywhere in the world and put him before a court in the US – even with the shakiest proof of his complicity under US laws."

Even having found itself inside a legal vacuum, the defense is sure that the jury will help bring the truth out, especially since for the first time since the beginning of the process, Viktor will be able to tell the jury the whole truth, Albert Dayan says:

"I believe that when it comes to the jury, they will give Viktor a chance and will listen to the truth of what happened. He hasn’t had such a chance as yet: there was political wrangling in Thailand, which meant Viktor didn’t have the opportunity to find people who would hear him out."

Even so, the Americans have done everything possible to complicate the jury selection process, with the release of the 2005 blockbuster Lord of War. US media actively speculated that Bout was the basis for the film’s protagonist Yuri Orlov, who smuggled weapons to Africa in the movie. Few people remember that Hollywood producers refused to finance the film, questioning the credibility of the plot. However, US media have today done everything to make Bout look like the bogeyman. And there is a real threat that emotions will get the better of members of the jury, Albert Dayan warns.

However, the defense hopes that common sense will prevail, given that it isn’t just an individual case, or even the American justice system that’s at stake here – this is an issue of observing laws in all countries. If Bout’s case culminates in a conviction, no person in the world can be sure that he won’t be accused of conspiring against the US tomorrow, arrested the next day, and put before a US court the following week.

A Dundee drugs dealer has been ordered to hand over almost £40,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Gary Carroll was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of dealing heroin in March.

When police raided his home they found thousands of pounds in cash and five bank bags full of drugs.

Dundee Sheriff Court ruled that Carroll's income and assets in the six years prior to his conviction were the proceeds of crime.

The sheriff said he had a "criminal lifestyle" and ordered him to pay £37,310.

Following the hearing, Lesley Thomson, from the Crown Office said: "The actions of drug dealers like Gary Carroll bring untold misery to families across Scotland."

"We will continue to use the powers available to us under the proceeds of crime legislation and to work closely with law enforcement."

Tamil gang from Tooting clashed violently with a Croydon gang on Saturday leaving two men were seriously injured.

Tamil gang from Tooting clashed violently with a Croydon gang on Saturday leaving two men were seriously injured.

Members from the Tooting Boys fought with Croydon's Jaffna Boys in London Road, West Croydon.

A man in his late teens and a man in his late 20s were rushed to hospital in a serious condition after the fight.

The gang battle came just days after the announcement that a feature film is being shot in Tooting, Croydon and Merton exploring the notoriously violent and secretive world of south London Tamil gangs.

Police were called to the area after reports of a group of males fighting.

As they arrived at the scene they found an 18-year-old man suffering from head wounds.

A member of the public alerted them to the location of a 27-year-old man who was found nearby, also suffering from head wounds.

Both men were stabilised before being taken to hospital.

The 18-year-old remains in a critical condition while the 27-year is described as stable.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: We were called just before 2.05am to reports of an assault on the London Road.

“We sent two ambulance crews and two responders in cars an officer .

“There were two male patients who were treated at the scene and stabilised before being taken to hospital.”

A Metropolitan Police Spokesman said: “Croydon CID are investigating. So far two men, a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old have been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Tamil Community leader, Patrick Ratnaraja said the problem of young Tamil men joining gangs was growing.

Mr Ratnaraja said: “I have alerted Greater London Assembly member, Councillor Steve O'Connell to this problem and he has already begun taking steps to remedy it.

“A raid was carried out on a property in London Road last week, believed to be used by Tamil gang members.”

The World’s Most Wanted

They are the men whose very names are synonymous with murder, drug trafficking, terrorism and organised crime.

They head gangs responsible for killing on a grand scale whose tentacles spread across national borders. Interpol describes them as “posing a serious threat to public safety worldwide”.

There is no definitive list of the world’s most wanted fugitives. The FBI’s is perhaps the most famous but – aside from Bin Laden, now marked “deceased” – is made up of those who have committed crimes within the US which do not come close to the deeds for which those pictured here are wanted.


Likewise, Interpol has no set list but acts as a central database for the most wanted men in countries around the world, including Britain’s.

In 2008, the American business magazine Forbes launched its own Most Wanted section, which is largely the basis for our list.

Of its list, Forbes says: “Forbes consulted with law enforcement agencies in the US and around the world to identify its top 10.  Everyone on the list has been criminally indicted or charged, some in national jurisdictions and some by international tribunals.

"They all are accused of a long history of committing serious crimes and are still considered dangerous. And each represents a type of criminal problem with which legal institutions in diverse jurisdictions are grappling.”


Joaquin Guzman
The world’s most notorious drug trafficker also appears on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest men. Guzman is known as El Chapo, or Shorty, and heads Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, responsible for a  drugs war which has left thousands of Mexicans dead in the battle to control smuggling corridors to the US. The US government has indicted Guzman and placed a $5m bounty on his head. He was arrested in Mexico on homicide and drug charges in 1993 but escaped from federal prison eight years later, reportedly through the laundry. He is reported to be responsible for up to half of wholesale drug shipments to the US since 2001.


Semion Mogilevich
The Ukrainian-born organised crime boss has been described as the “boss of bosses” of most Russian mafia syndicates in the world. He is believed to control a vast criminal empire and has been called “the most dangerous mobster in the world”, “the brainy don” and “the billion dollar don”. He was arrested in 2008 in Russia amid accusations of tax evasion but, with lawyers protesting his innocence, he was released in 2009. The US has asked that he be handed over in connection with a $150m stock fraud but with no extradition treaty with Russia, it is unlikely. The FBI says Mogilevich has been linked to allegations from murder-for-hire to weapons and even nuclear trafficking. Mogilevich denies such accusations.


Ayman Al-Zawahiri
Bin Laden’s number two has a $25m bounty on his head, offered by the US government. He is wanted for the murder of American nationals and conspiracy to murder.
He is now widely expected to step up to lead Al Qaeda after bin Laden’s death but is said not to have his former boss’s charm or vision. Al-Zawahiri is a physician and the founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), which merged with Al Qaeda in 1998.


Matteo Messina Denaro
Head of the world’s most famous organised criminal group, the Italian mafia.
Nicknamed “Diabolic”, Denaro emerged as leader of the Italian mafia after the capture of “boss of bosses”, Bernardo Provenzano, in 2006. Arrests of other top mafia men mean the Sicilian godfather is considered the new boss. He is known for driving Porches and wearing Rolex watches. He has been on the run since 1993.


Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov
Born in Uzbekistan, Tokhtakhounov is described by the US government as a “major figure in international Eurasian organised crime”, involved in “drug distribution, illegal arms sales and trafficking in stolen vehicles”. In 2002, the US government indicted him for bribing Olympic figure skating judges. Interpol links him with Mogilevich and, like him, he is a face of the Russian mob.


Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar
The most wanted man in India is believed to lead a 5,000-member criminal syndicate known as D-Company, involved in narcotics and contract killing and based mainly in Pakistan, India and the United Arab Emirates. America says Ibrahim shares smuggling routes with Al Qaeda, with whom they accuse him of collaborating. Also accused of being involved with Al Qaeda affiliate, Lashkar-e-Taiba, which pulled off the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. He is wanted by Interpol on terrorism and explosive charges. Also number 50 on Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful people.


Felicien Kabuga
Africa’s most wanted man is accused of financing one of the worst genocides in human history.
The wealthy businessman is sought by the UN’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in connection with the massacre of over 800,000 Rwandan men, woman and children in 100 days in 1994. He provided transportation and machetes and hoes that were used as weapons. A dramatic US-led operation to catch him in 2003 failed and led to the death of their key informant. The UN court will start examining evidence against him next week. He is believed to be hiding in Kenya.


Joseph Kony
The former Catholic altar boy from Uganda has waged war against the country’s government for two decades in his bid to rule according to the 10 commandments.
The head of guerrilla group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, he has driven the killing of civilians in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has displaced two million people and directed the abduction of 60,000, including 30,000 children, forcing them to fight in his campaign of murder, rape, mutilation and sexual slavery. He reputedly forces children to murder their parents as part of their initiation. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Thought to have at least 60 wives.


James “Whitey” Bulger
Leader of the Boston-based, Irish American Winter Hill gang.
He is wanted by the FBI for 19 counts of murder, drug distribution, extortion, racketeering and money laundering.
There is a $2m bounty on his head. He has a violent temper and is known to carry a knife. He was last seen in London. His wealth is estimated between $30-50m and he is thought to use that and his criminal contacts – reportedly including the IRA – to evade capture.


Omid Tahvili
Tahvili, 40, is the kingpin of a Persian organised crime family in Canada. Known as “Nino”, Tahvili walked out of a maximum security prison in British Columbia in November 2007 after bribing a guard with $50,000. He had been in custody since 2005 on an unrelated kidnap and assault charge. The US government wants him for his alleged operation of a fraudulent telemarketing business that took $3m from elderly American victims. Tahvili is believed to have connections across the world and is described by the FBI as “extremely dangerous”.