Former boxing champion Goran Gogic, 43, from Montenegro, was arrested last Sunday evening as he attempted to board an international flight from Miami. According to the US Department of Justice, Gogic faces charges for conspiring to violate the Maritime Narcotics Act and three separate counts of violating the same act[1]. If convicted, Gogic faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in prison[1].
US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bren Pease, described the amount of cocaine Gogic and his associates were allegedly attempting to transport as "shocking." Pease added that the amount exceeded 20 tons[1].
Court documents indicate that between May 2018 and July 2019, Gogic collaborated with others to distribute large quantities of cocaine sourced from Colombia on cargo ships bound for the United States en route to Europe[1].
US law enforcement agencies confiscated three shipments of cocaine[1]. The largest seizure took place on June 19, 2019, at the port of Philadelphia, where nearly 20 tons of cocaine were discovered hidden on board the MSC Gayane[1]. This confiscation, valued at over $1 billion, marked one of the largest cocaine seizures in US history[1].
Gogic's attorney, Lawrence Hashish, told CNN the charges caught his client off guard. Hashish, however, stated that Gogic maintains his innocence and had come to the United States for a boxing conference in Puerto Rico[1]. Hashish also mentioned that a bail hearing for Gogic was scheduled for November 7, 2023, but this date could change as Gogic is currently being held in isolation[1].
BoxRec reports that Gogic's professional boxing career spanned 11 years, from 2001 to 2012. His boxing record shows a total of 21 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws[2].
Enrichment Data:
The prosecution argues that Gogic and his accomplices employed "meticulous planning" to transport cocaine from Colombia to Europe through US ports[1].
The seizure of cocaine is reported to have exceeded $1 billion in value[1].
The exact quantity of cocaine seized is not specified in the sources, but it is mentioned that the operation involved a substantial amount of cocaine[1].
For the most current information, it would be advisable to check recent news updates or official court documents, as the information provided is based on a news article from February 8, 2025.
[1] - CBS Minnesota (2025, February 8) . [2] - BoxRec.com (n.d.) .
