Edin “Tito” Gacanin, Dubai Company Linked to Global Drug Cartel
Edin “Tito” Gacanin, the leader of a notorious international drug cartel, set up a company in Dubai to employ key members of his criminal network, which has flooded European and other international markets with cocaine and amphetamines. Leaked records from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reveal that Gacanin, a Bosnian-born Dutch national, established the company to facilitate drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
Gacanin, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2023, is known as the head of the Tito and Dino Cartel, which is allegedly part of a larger European super cartel involving several infamous groups, including the Kinahan Organization and the Dutch Mocro Maffia. Despite his criminal background and U.S. sanctions, Gacanin resides freely in Dubai, a region known for financial secrecy and shell companies.
The leaked documents show that Gacanin set up his company in Dubai, first under the name Edin DMCC in 2015, later changing it to Edin Group DMCC. This company was linked to a parent company, Edin Group Ltd., registered in the British Virgin Islands. Despite being a convicted drug trafficker, Gacanin faced no obstacles in establishing these companies, which authorities in both Dubai and the British Virgin Islands overlooked.
These revelations highlight the growing role of the UAE as a haven for international drug traffickers and money launderers, with Gacanin’s operation acting as a prime example of how illicit activities can flourish under the radar.
