Prosecutor’s Office Initiates 2024 Cases Involving Secret Surveillance in 105
Last year, state prosecutors’ offices initiated 105 cases under covert surveillance and proposed 267 measures, with 262 proposals being accepted and one rejected.
This information is highlighted in the State Prosecutor’s Office’s report for 2024, submitted to the Parliament of Montenegro for review.
“In the reporting year, measures applied against nine individuals resulted in indictments,” the document states.
The report clarifies that these measures enabled the collection of evidence leading to indictments against five individuals by the Podgorica Higher State Prosecutor’s Office, two by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, and one each by the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica and the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Bijelo Polje.
According to the same data, the SDT requested secret surveillance measures in 15 cases, encompassing covert surveillance and recording of telephone conversations and other remote communications in 55 instances. Special prosecutors sought the interception, collection, and recording of computer data in two cases, and access to premises for secret photography and audio/video recording in 40 cases.
SDT and Criminal Cases
Last year saw a 13.55 percent increase in reports of crimes against adults compared to the previous year, as determined by the basic, higher, and Special State Prosecutor’s Offices.
This is evident from the data compiled in the State Prosecutor’s Office’s annual report submitted to the Parliament of Montenegro.
“Regarding crimes against adults assessed by the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, there was a 5.07% reduction in reported individuals compared to the preceding year. Organized crime constituted 14.03% of reported offenses, high corruption 72.78%, money laundering 2.40%, while other crimes under this office’s jurisdiction made up 10.79%,” the document states.
An analysis of crime trends indicates a decrease of 22 individuals, or 9.95 percent, reported for organized crime—221 in 2023, compared to 196 in 2022, 127 in 2021, 245 in 2020, and 200 in 2019.
“Reports were submitted against 199 persons. Including unresolved reports from earlier periods against 68 individuals, there were a total of 267 pending reports, with 106 dismissed, 96 calling for investigations, 27 transferred, and one individual directly charged. At the end of the reporting period, 37 reports remained pending against individuals,” the report elaborates.
It specifies that one person was reported for aggravated murder, 20 for aggravated murder and the formation of a criminal organization—all of whom had investigation orders issued against them. Additionally, 11 individuals from prior reports on fraud and the formation of a criminal organization received transfers—two reports were dismissed, while the remaining nine were forwarded to other prosecutors.
“Twenty-four individuals were reported for unauthorized production, possession, and distribution of narcotic drugs and the formation of a criminal organization, all of whom had investigations ordered. Two people were reported for criminal association, resulting in seven remaining unresolved reports when combined with five from the previous period, totaling 140 overall; reports against 97 were dismissed, 18 directed to investigations, while reports against 17 remained unresolved.”
The report indicates that nine individuals faced charges for illegally crossing the state border, human smuggling, and forming a criminal organization, all of whom had orders issued to conduct an investigation. Also, one person was reported for aggravated murder, illegal possession of weapons and explosives, and forming a criminal organization, with an investigation order issued against them.
“Seventeen individuals were reported for smuggling and forming a criminal organization, with 16 ordered for investigation, while one report remained unresolved. One individual was reported for unauthorized production, possession, and distribution of narcotic drugs, unauthorized possession of weapons and explosives, and forming a criminal organization, also receiving an investigation order. Three individuals were reported for murder and forming a criminal organization, with orders for investigation issued. For murder, unauthorized possession of weapons and explosives, and forming a criminal organization, one report from an earlier period remained unresolved.”
In compliance with the Law on the Treatment of Juveniles in Criminal Procedure, the State Prosecutor’s Office in 2024 expanded the application of alternative measures in cases involving juvenile offenders.
“Twenty individuals faced charges for aggravated murder and forming a criminal organization, all of whom had investigations ordered. Reports were also filed against 11 individuals from previous periods for fraud and the formation of a criminal organization—two of these reports were dismissed, while nine were transferred to other prosecutors’ offices.”
Criminal Charges Against 10,152 Known Adult Offenders
In the previous year, criminal charges were filed against 10,152 known adult offenders, an increase from 8,776 in 2023.
There were 8,734 reports involving adults and 498 against minors, within the jurisdiction of the basic and higher prosecutor’s offices.
Under the jurisdiction of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, 1,418 known adults faced charges.
“Taking into account unresolved reports from earlier periods against 3,303 individuals, the total number of known adults charged in 2024 reached 13,455 within the State Prosecutor’s Office. During the same period, 1,110 criminal reports were filed against unknown perpetrators under the jurisdiction of the basic and higher prosecutor’s offices, compared to 1,236 in 2023, along with 24 reports against unknown offenders in the Special State Prosecutor’s Office,” the report concludes.