Dragan arrested at Harwood Slipway

HARWOOD and Iluka don’t usually get a share of the world headlines.

But when a friend of accused Balkan War criminal Dragan Vasiljkovic bought a 10-metre yacht from an Iluka man a few weeks ago and then had the notorious figure repair it at the Harwood Slipway this week, the Lower Clarence became the focus of an international investigation.

Though official details of the stakeout and arrest of Vasiljkovic are limited, Harwood Slipway general manager Gio Cervalla said he was just about to close the facility’s gates on Wednesday afternoon when more than a dozen police stormed the shipyard.

“They went straight to the yacht and called for him to come above board,” Mr Cervella said.

“He did so, he did not struggle and he was handcuffed and taken away,” he said.

Vasiljkovic, now 55, remains in custody awaiting a decision on his possible extradition to Croatia.