Detective operations in Montenegro have faced a standstill for six years due to the lack of adopted bylaws and the inability of interested individuals to meet the requirements set by the Law on Detective Activities, as reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) in “Vijesti”.

One of the stipulated requirements, as outlined in Article 8 of this law, is that individuals must be qualified to conduct detective work.

Such training is to be provided by an adult education organizer holding a license in accordance with the laws governing adult education.

“Given the insufficient interest, the organizer hasn’t had the chance to arrange training for even one registered participant in recent years,” the Ministry of Interior clarified.

The Ministry emphasized that the so-called ‘blockade of detective work in Montenegro’ arises from the stringent conditions required for obtaining a license to practice detective work, resulting in a lack of interest in both acquiring these licenses and engaging in detective activities.

“The latest legal framework for issuing permits for detective work, as determined by the Law on Detective Activities and the failure to adopt necessary bylaws, has resulted in a freeze on detective work in Montenegro. Since 2019, no approvals or permits for detective activities have been issued due to these unmet legal requirements,” stated the department led by Danilo Šaranović.

This Role is Primarily Held by Former Police Officers.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that this sector has predominantly been filled by former police officers who, according to the previous regulations, met the criteria for obtaining detective licenses.

“These individuals had at least two years of relevant experience in duties such as security and operational roles within Montenegro’s military and intelligence agencies, as well as in legal capacities. However, the new law has removed this eligibility even for those who previously received licenses under the old law, necessitating their return to the competent authority,” the Ministry explained.

Currently, the department has not formulated specific plans to revive detective work.

“Given the potential role of private detective work in the sector, effective regulation and oversight are essential for legal operation. While there are ideas for advancing this area, at this moment, no plans have been specifically discussed due to systemic shortcomings in the relevant organizational units, though we anticipate future action to develop this sector,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated.

They mentioned that internal assessments and communications have been made to higher authorities and organizational units about this issue.

“Meetings have been organized to seek solutions. However, no additional communications have been directed to other institutions concerning the current detective work situation. As mentioned, we believe conditions for more actionable initiatives will emerge soon,” the Ministry noted.

Currently, there are no registered private detectives in Montenegro.

In this context, “Vijesti” reached out to the detective agency “Protecta” based in Serbia.

According to their insights, detective work in Montenegro is not officially suspended, but there is a lack of interest from individuals wanting to pursue it.

“The explanation is straightforward; this is not a particularly lucrative field, and sustaining profitability in a small market is quite challenging,” stated Ratko Jolic, the director of the company’s detective sector.

He mentioned that they do not advertise or offer services in Montenegro, but if necessary, they are willing to pursue leads that take them there and collaborate with individuals or relevant institutions.

“For the past 25 years, our agency has worked with colleagues globally, particularly in regional countries. Internationally, we collaborate with fellow detectives, legal professionals, court experts, and specialists across diverse fields. It’s important to remember that detective work is primarily intellectual and requires skilled experts for successful case resolution. Our services also include consulting and various security-related operations,” Jolić explained.

He noted that legal regulations for detective work are aligned across the regional nations.

“In Serbia, detective work shows a slight but consistent rise, though it is still relatively unrepresented. The trend is similar across the region,” said Jolić.

Some of the services offered by Protecta include identifying individuals acting anonymously and illegally, resolving burglary cases, conducting family investigations, gathering information, finding missing persons, monitoring individuals, safeguarding children, preventing addiction, countering sect activities, detecting surveillance equipment, and administering polygraph tests.

Moreover, they provide corporate services, including screening job candidates and investigating sick leave misuse.

“Over the years, we have remained available to individuals and businesses requiring private investigations, legal aid, and advice. We don’t view cases as too complex or extraordinary—once we take on a case, we have a 99% success rate in its resolution,” Jolić remarked in his interview with the newspaper.

Sects Present A Significant Challenge

When asked about the prevalence of sect activities and whether Protecta has encountered any cases, Jolić responded that “unfortunately, sects remain a major societal issue in the 21st century,” noting they often receive requests for assistance.

He specified that in his agency, Zoran Lukovic manages that sector.

“Zoran is recognized as the most prominent sectologist in the region and a licensed detective. He is ready to apply his expertise to assist families affected by the actions of totalitarian and destructive sects and organizations,” Jolić explained.

The director mentioned they often entrust partner fidelity investigations to their younger colleagues.

“We love providing such services to young colleagues seeing it as a valuable learning experience. If they can’t catch a cheater, how can they apprehend a serious criminal? (Laughter),” he quipped.

According to Jolić, they achieve a high success rate in resolving home burglaries, often utilizing polygraph testing.

“Our polygraph center meets global standards for modern polygraph labs. It’s typically our first approach in burglary cases, and following successful tests, our teams can effectively resolve these incidents,” he shared.

“From all of the above, it is evident that detective work is not entirely suspended; rather, the strict conditions surrounding licensing have led to insufficient interest from individuals wishing to undertake this profession,” affirmed the Ministry of the Interior.

Clarification on Educational Requirements

According to the latest Law on Detective Activities, one requirement for obtaining a license for this work is possessing higher education at qualification level VIII, equating to a Doctor of Science title in Montenegro’s educational system.

“Vijesti” inquired with the Ministry of Interior to confirm if a doctorate is indeed required for obtaining a detective license. They denied such claims, citing a typographical error.

“Article 8 of the Law on Detective Activities specifies that ‘a license for detective work may be issued to an individual with a VII1 level of educational qualification.’ In that article, there was a missing punctuation mark between ‘VII’ and ‘1,’ highlighting a typing error,” they clarified in their response.

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