As both a member of parliament and a passionate citizen dedicated to preserving our natural resources, I warmly welcome the announcement of a new specialized police unit aimed at tackling environmental crime. This news was shared today by Momčilo Leković, a member of parliament representing the Democratic Montenegro party.

“This decision sends a crucial message that Montenegro is finally taking steps to safeguard its natural environment and that we will no longer complacently witness the degradation of our homeland,” Leković stated.

On June 20, the Bureau for Operational Coordination (BOK) instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the Police Directorate to establish a specialized unit within the Crime Prevention Sector tasked with fighting environmental crime, as announced by BOK coordinator Aleksa Bečić.

Leković further remarked, “For years, we have characterized nature as our most valuable asset, but only now—through this action, along with similar initiatives we will propose in the future—do we have a credible opportunity to protect that asset in a way befitting a serious European state.”

“Consider Spain’s SEPRONA elite unit, which has successfully defended nature with full state authority for decades. They demonstrate that environmental justice is not a mere illusion, but a tangible, operational, armed, and educated force that stands guard between nature and those who seek to harm it. Since its inception in 1988, this unit has managed over 7,358 environmental cases, resulting in approximately 5,320 arrests over the past 32 years. If a similar unit had been established in Montenegro, many environmental crises, as well as negligence on both institutional and personal levels, could have been prevented. The core of its mission lies in the prevention, investigation, and intelligence collection regarding environmental crimes,” Leković explained.

He expressed satisfaction that individuals who understand the significance of such organizations have finally entered the security sector and recognize that ecology encompasses not only the protection of flora and fauna but also touches on health, tourism, the economy, and national security.

“I am confident that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Directorate will diligently, professionally, and transparently implement the initiative proposed by Deputy Prime Minister and BOK Coordinator Aleksa Bečić, ensuring that personnel with the requisite expertise, ethics, and commitment are selected to combat one of the most detrimental and insidious forms of crime today: environmental crime. Montenegro is undeniably a natural gem, but without a robust system to safeguard that nature, it will continue to be merely a postcard. It is time for a transformation,” Leković concluded.

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