In an operation called “Cekic”, officers from the Crime Prevention Sector, specifically the Department for Combating Corruption, Economic Crime, and Financial Investigations, along with the Regional Security Center “North” and the Berane Security Department, have submitted seven criminal reports since September 2024 against nine individuals suspected of involvement in deforestation and causing a state budget loss of 290,000 euros, according to the Police Directorate.

Among those charged are the former head of the Berane PJ-Administration for Forest and Hunting Areas, Ž.V. (62), and another former manager, Ž.T. (53), both accused of committing abuse of official position and accepting bribes through various criminal reports submitted to the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Berane.

Additionally, an officer from the Forest and Hunting Management Administration, RN (58), has been charged with abuse of official position, while a civilian, M.Č. (33), faces prosecution for allegedly bribing the former manager, Ž.V. Two other individuals, N.Dž. (32) and Nj.K. (27), have also been charged with forest theft, as outlined in the statement.

The police highlighted that the former managers Ž.V. and Ž.T., along with the ranger RN, are suspected of misconduct in their official capacities, which allowed for the illegal harvesting of timber—specifically, 3,291 m³ of conifers and 505 m³ of broadleaves in the Jelovica Forestry and Hunting Grounds of Berane Municipality. This breach resulted in unlawful financial gain for the suspects while causing over 290,000 euros in material damage to the Forest Management and Hunting Grounds Administration.

“During the operation ‘Chamfer’, authorities also confiscated two cargo vehicles used by N.Dž. and Nj.K. for illegal logging and the transportation of stolen timber,” the statement concludes.

News