Heavyweight Montenegrin boxer Goran Gogic (21-4-2) has been charged with trafficking 22 tons of cocaine worth one billion dollars into the US.
Gogic attempted to board a flight from Miami to Zurich on Sunday night but was denied and arrested.
The 43-year-old heavyweight was indicted by a grand jury in New York after one of the biggest drug busts in American history. Gogic has been charged with three counts of breaching the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and a further count of conspiracy.
The Montenegrin could receive a life sentence after the charges of carrying 22 tons worth of cocaine from commercial cargo ships in Philadelphia three years ago.
Following the heavyweights arrest, the US attorney Breon Pearce commented on the matter.
“The arrest and indictment of Gogic, a former boxer allegedly responsible for trafficking a staggering amount of cocaine, more than 20 tons, which he attempted to move through US ports, is a resounding victory for law enforcement.
“The meticulous planning by the defendant and his co-conspirators failed to take into account the federal agents whose hard work resulted in this body blow to the organisation and individuals responsible for distributing massive quantities of cocaine.”
DEA Special Agent-in-charge Frank Tarantino III added substance to the claims.
“A billion dollars’ (£870million) worth of cocaine seized was a heavy hit for Gogic’s criminal network, but nothing heavier than his arrest last night.
“As evident in this case, criminal organisations will go to various extremes to make a profit off the sale of poison.
“Due to the hard work by local, state and federal law enforcement, 20 tons of poison was intercepted en route from Colombia to Europe.
“Gogic’s arrest underscores law enforcement’s commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for causing the most harm to our communities.”
Gogic retired from boxing in 2012, with a record of 21-4-2, and defeated Romanian heavyweight Liviu Ungreanu.