The rivalry between the Kavac and Skaljari clans, originating from Kotor (Montenegro), has escalated in Catalonia, with Catalan police recording several episodes of violence. This dispute, which has caused between 60 and 70 homicides across Europe, is characterized by fireworks celebrations in their hometown each time a death occurs, a fact authorities interpret as a desire to display the victim.
In the last twelve months, the Barcelona area has been the scene of two murders and two attempted murders attributed to this war. The most recent victim is an alleged member of the Skaljari, 44 years old, who was shot twice in the back while on a terrace with his family and remains hospitalized in serious condition. Previously, another attempted murder took place in August, and a man was fatally shot in Castelldefels in December.
“"It's not about cocaine; there's a market for everyone. It's pure revenge."
Police sources emphasize that the main motive for these acts is not control over cocaine trafficking, but deep-seated revenge. The clans use sophisticated means, from firearms in Spain to explosives in Serbia, and are capable of sending hitmen with sufficient resources to locate and eliminate their targets. This modus operandi complicates investigations, as the perpetrators leave no trace and require extensive international collaboration.
The war between the Kavac and Skaljari began in 2014, following a dispute over a 200-kilogram cocaine shipment bound for Valencia. Initially, both groups were part of the Kotor clan, dedicated to importing cocaine from South America. The separation and the onset of violence occurred when one of the clans interpreted the loss of the drug as a betrayal, claiming the first victim in 2015.
Although most executions occur in the Balkans, the dispute has spread across several European countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, and Spain. Ports are key points for drug entry and distribution, leading members of these clans to settle in Catalan territory with false documentation, attempting to go unnoticed and even establishing family lives. The Mossos d'Esquadra, in collaboration with Serbian police, have dismantled some factions of these groups, with arrests such as that of 13 individuals linked to the Kavac last October. Despite recent incidents, authorities do not believe the war has intensified, but rather remains a sustained conflict with no friendly end in sight.
