Vienna Murder Suspect Arrested After Seven Years

A man has been arrested seven years after a brutal murder in central Vienna. Investigators believe the suspect is a paid assassin linked to the Montenegrin Skaljari clan. The killing happened in broad daylight in December 2018, causing public panic and remaining unsolved.

The victim, Vladimir R., was shot multiple times in the head outside the Figlmüller restaurant. He died instantly. The attacker escaped, prompting a large police search.

Investigators tracked the suspect, Mili B., to Rimini, Italy. An Interpol warrant had been out for him since 2020. On May 11, Italian police arrested him without resistance. Inside his apartment, they found mobile phones, weapons, and fake documents. Austria is now seeking his extradition for trial in Vienna.

This murder is linked to a violent conflict between the Montenegrin Kavač and Skaljari clans. These former allies began fighting in 2014 over a missing cocaine shipment in Valencia, Spain. This clan war has caused many deaths across Europe. Vladimir R. was a close associate of Kavač clan leader Radoje Zvicer. Mili B. is also connected to other clan-related murders.

Decrypted messages from the SkyECC app revealed plans for more violence. Austrian authorities found Vienna served as a logistical hub for these Balkan drug clans, used for storing drugs, weapons, and cash. The Austrian unit AG Achilles has linked these clans to 47 tons of narcotics, making about 500 arrests and leading to over 1,300 years of prison sentences. This shows ongoing organized crime problems in the region.