European crime ring behind 60 killings is dismantled, police say

International cooperation triggered by a spate of gangland murders in Greece has helped to dismantle a crime ring accused of more than 60 killings across Europe over the past decade, police said on Friday.

More than 39 people, mainly from Serbia and Montenegro but also from Albania and Romania, have been identified on suspicion of participating in a criminal organization, according to court documents, and about 17 are in prison in Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey.

The "Kotor Clan," set up in 2010 in Montenegro and involved in drug trafficking around the world, split into two rival groups, Kavac and Skaljari, in 2014 after a dispute over a failed drug trafficking operation in Spain.

"The war between the two groups led to at least 60 murders throughout Europe," said Athens police head Fotios Douitsis.

Four members, from Serbia and Montenegro, arrived in...