In the last six months, authorities have brought criminal charges against 14 individuals and organizations for money laundering, which includes two senior police officials believed to have channeled 8.5 million euros through legal means.

One of those charged is former police officer Duško Koprivica and inspector from Bijelo Polje, Miljan Knežević. They are currently being investigated by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) for money laundering connected to illicit earnings.

This information is detailed in the Special Report on the Police Directorate’s Efforts Against Organized Crime and Corruption, recently presented by Acting Director Lazar Scepanovic to the Parliamentary Committee on Security and Defense.

The report does not mention the former officer of the National Security Agency (ANB) and the Police Directorate, Dusko Golubovic, as inquiries are ongoing regarding the extent of money laundering linked to real estate acquisitions both within Montenegro and abroad.

“Vijesti” sought details from the Police Directorate regarding the classified report submitted to the Committee. However, they provided only statistical data collected over the past six months, reflecting collaborative efforts with the SDT, higher, and basic state prosecutors’ offices.

“During the period from December 1, 2023, to the end of May 2024, the Police Directorate and all its units achieved significant, measurable results, showcasing an efficient institutional response to contemporary security threats focusing on serious organized crime and corruption,” the Police Directorate stated.

They reported a total of 2,421 criminal offenses prosecuted ex officio, with an impressive resolution rate of over 85 percent for crimes involving unknown perpetrators, while the remaining 15 percent pertains to lower-severity offenses.

“15 offenses with unidentified perpetrators from previous years have also seen resolution, illustrating the Police Directorate’s dedication in addressing these cases with the same seriousness as current investigations,” the response elaborated.

The document provided to Parliament also includes statistics indicating complete coverage (100 percent) of crimes against life and limb over the half-year period.

“In the reporting phase, police addressed 19 serious offenses against life and limb, resulting in six murders and 13 attempted murders, one of which involved aggravated murder. These crimes stemmed from conflicts among organized criminal factions. Additionally, preventive actions thwarted the execution of five high-risk offenses attributed to organized crime networks,” the response conveyed to “Vijesti.”

247 Reports Against Organized Criminal Groups

As of December 1, 2024, a total of 247 criminal reports have been lodged against members of organized crime groups and individuals of operational interest.

“These outcomes are a testament to the effectively implemented proactive, preventive, and intelligence-driven activities designed to mitigate serious crimes associated with organized crime. This reflects the Police Directorate’s robust commitment to counteracting threats from organized crime structures,” stated the institution’s response.

The report also noted the resolution of five serious crimes against life and limb, containing four aggravated murders and one attempted aggravated murder from prior years, connected to conflicts between organized crime factions.

The Special Police Department forwarded 24 criminal cases to the SDT, comprising charges and supplementary reports against 104 individuals and one corporation, with particular emphasis on the prosecution of five public officials and 10 police officers linked to organized crime and corruption.

“32 individuals identified as leaders and senior members of high-risk organized crime groups played pivotal roles in orchestrating and executing severe offenses against life and limb, alongside the smuggling of over nine tons of narcotics, including cocaine and marijuana, at both transnational and regional levels. Additionally, three homicide offenses and one attempted homicide from earlier years were noted.”

Cigarette Smuggling

Significant operations conducted by the Police Directorate, SDT, and the Special Police Department led to numerous arrests of individuals suspected of overseeing established cigarette smuggling routes from the Port of Bar.

At the end of 2024, one former owner of “Tehnomax,” Saša Pekić, was apprehended based on suspicions of his longstanding involvement at the top of the tobacco cartel, additionally involving owner Vesko Petranović.

The arrests related to large-scale cigarette smuggling continued in April, with the apprehension of Velimir Milacic, owner of “Agrarija,” as well as Žarko Bulatović, owner of “BatBojana,” and Mujo Mujevic from Rožaje, who have been crucial links on the northern route for years.

The Police Directorate’s report indicated that 32 individuals were charged in the past six months for smuggling and illicit cigarette trade.

“These individuals allegedly smuggled a total of 81,370 packages of cigarettes, resulting in an estimated material loss to the Montenegrin budget of around 64.1 million euros,” the report outlined.

The report also highlighted that 95 criminal charges were filed against 125 individuals for drug-related offenses. Nationwide, authorities confiscated 165 kilograms of narcotics and 1,115 synthetic drug tablets.

Despite facing significant systemic challenges, including personnel shortages, the Police Directorate acknowledged the impressive results achieved.

“Given the complexity of tasks assigned, we commend the police officers for their professionalism and commitment to their duties, displaying a high level of accountability, courage, and dedication to safeguarding citizens and maintaining a stable security environment,” the response highlighted.

The projected financial damage to the state over the past six months due to economic crime is estimated at 100 million euros.

246 Arrests on Wanted Warrants

In a span of six months, 246 individuals were located and arrested on various warrants, including 55 on international warrants involving high-ranking members of organized crime groups, with 191 arrests related to national warrants and wanted lists.

The report indicated that the Police Directorate has ramped up activities in critical national priorities such as human trafficking, illegal migration, and human smuggling…

These efforts resulted in 17 criminal reports and the prosecution of 26 individuals for 23 offenses, with a notable number of foreign nationals involved; additionally, one border police officer faced prosecution for allegedly facilitating illegal border crossings and human smuggling.

In collaborative inter-sectoral actions by the Police Directorate, 65 vehicles allegedly linked to international crimes were located and seized.

Tenfold Increase in Weapons Seized Since Cetinje Tragedy

Through coordinated police and prosecutorial interventions, 705 weapons along with 31,423 rounds of various ammunition were confiscated during the reporting period.

Following the tragic events in Cetinje on January 1, the Police Directorate implemented vigorous measures, coupled with the campaign “Respect Life, Return Weapons,” resulting in record outcomes in weapon recovery from citizens.

“Over 3,660 firearms, more than 123,000 rounds of ammunition, 418 hand grenades, and hundreds of other weapons, including mines and explosives, have been voluntarily surrendered—an amount ten times greater than that recorded in the past decade,” stated the Police Directorate’s response.

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