Elite commando who saved Captain Philips was accused of plotting to kill world leader — as his mercenary unit is sued
A former US Special Forces operative, Daniel Corbett, who once belonged to a high-profile mercenary unit reportedly earning $1.5 million a month, faced allegations of plotting against Serbia’s president.
Corbett was detained in Belgrade in 2018 after authorities found a firearm with a defaced serial number in his possession. Local reports suggested that he might have been in the country to target President Aleksandar Vučić. The former Navy SEAL spent 18 months in a Serbian prison after his arrest, alongside three Serbian nationals.
Serbian officials quickly hinted that serious intentions were suspected, with President Vučić himself remarking that Corbett had not come “to shoot fish in the Danube.” Despite the accusations, by June 2019 Corbett was cleared of all weapon-related charges due to insufficient evidence.
The episode comes amid legal turmoil surrounding Corbett’s former mercenary unit, Spear. A recent lawsuit filed by a former member of Yemen’s House of Representatives accuses the group of attempting to assassinate him. The suit alleges that the unit, led by San Diego resident Abraham Golan, compiled a “kill list” of 23 individuals to target on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. Golan, along with Issac Gilmore and Dale Comstock, are named as defendants in this case. Corbett himself is not listed in the lawsuit.
Corbett, reportedly part of SEAL Team 6 and involved in the operation against Osama Bin Laden, has previously shared experiences of his mercenary work in a book and in public appearances. He also participated in the 2009 rescue of Captain Phillips from Somali pirates.
In his 2024 memoir, American Mercenary, Corbett recalls the Belgrade incident. One chapter, provocatively titled “F***ing Serbia, man,” describes his sudden arrest: authorities entered his apartment, pointing guns, and questioned whether he was part of the DEA, CIA, or working as a private contractor. “I’m just hanging out,” he reportedly said, insisting he had no plan to harm anyone. Serbian authorities, while ultimately believing him, proceeded with the detention, which drew international attention.
Corbett was acquitted in June 2019 and immediately expelled from Serbia. Shortly afterward, his lawyer was killed in an apparently unrelated gang-style shooting.
Spear, the mercenary unit Corbett once served with, was founded by Golan and Gilmore in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, in 2015. The pair allegedly contracted with the UAE to carry out targeted assassinations, with monthly payments of $1.5 million and bonuses for each completed mission. According to the lawsuit, the team included former US military personnel, such as Comstock, a former Army Special Forces operator, who was reportedly compensated $40,000 monthly plus incentives.
By December 2015, the group was allegedly deployed to Yemen, equipped with body armor and specialized explosives. Their primary target, Anssaf Ali Mayo, a member of Yemen’s al-Islah party, narrowly escaped after being warned of a planned attack. The operation involved explosives placed at the party headquarters in Aden, followed by gunfire, with a booby-trapped vehicle detonated afterward. Mayo later described enduring lasting psychological trauma and currently resides in Saudi Arabia.
Attempts to reach Spear’s members for comment were unsuccessful. Mayo also could not be contacted for further statements.
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