Serbian drug lord Sreten Josic, known as Joca Amsterdam, was released on parole today following a decision by the Court of Appeals in Belgrade, Danas reports.
An official court announcement states that the decision was made on December 10, 2025.
"The Court of Appeals in Belgrade has issued a decision, accepting the appeal of the defendant's defense, amending the first-instance decision and the defendant Josic is conditionally released from serving his 15-year sentence and ordering his immediate release. The conditional release can last until February 28, 2026 at the latest," the statement said.
The court concluded that all legal conditions for Josic's release have been met and that "it can be reasonably expected that the convicted person will behave well, and especially that he will not commit a new crime until the end of his sentence," news.bg reported.
Josic's lawyer filed a request for conditional release with the High Court in Belgrade in September, but it was rejected. The defense then filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal, which ultimately approved the release.
We recall that Josic was arrested on April 27, 2009 on suspicion of participating in the murder of Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanic. Although he was later finally acquitted in this case, on December 28, 2012, he was transferred from the Central Prison in Zadova to serve a 15-year sentence for inciting the murder of Goran Marjanović, nicknamed Goksi the Bomber, in 1995.
In 2002, as the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Boyko Borisov arrested Josić in Bulgaria, after which he began to move around with increased security. In 2009, the National Intelligence Service conducted an investigation into the allegations made by the Serbian drug lord Josić before a Belgrade court that he had benefited from the protection of the Bulgarian intelligence services. That is why he felt safe in Bulgaria. Josic also included Borisov's name in the circle of his patrons.
In 2001, Josic went into hiding in Bulgaria under a false identity, fleeing an international search.
In April 2002, a joint operation was carried out by the NSBOP (today's GDBOP), Interpol and special police units. Josic was arrested in Sofia. He did not resist arrest.
In June 2002, he was extradited to Serbia.