The Border Police Sector, in collaboration with regional border police forces, has carried out targeted international operational activities aimed at specific critical points along land and water borders, aligning with national priorities in combating various forms of cross-border crime.

According to the Police Directorate, significant emphasis has been placed on tackling the smuggling of migrants, drugs, and weapons, while also enhancing integrated surveillance and intelligence sharing, in compliance with European Union standards, supported by Frontex.

“Officers from the Border Police Sector led and coordinated the ‘Lake 2025’ operation, which spanned the Skadar Lake and Bojana River area, conducted as part of an international collaborative operation involving Montenegro. This initiative also included the Regional Security Centers ‘South’ and ‘Center,’ the Crime Prevention Sector, and officers from the Directorate for Maritime and Inland Navigation, the Tourist Inspection, the Labor Inspection, and Skadar Lake National Park,” the police stated.

They further noted that this operation aimed to combat cross-border crime, with particular attention on the smuggling of narcotics, excise goods, migrants, and weapons, as well as monitoring operationally significant individuals, vehicles, vessels, and facilities in the designated area.

In addition to the Border Police Sector, Albanian Border Police officers participated in the ‘Lake 2025’ operation, conducting similar activities within their national territory.

The Border Police Sector also conducted and coordinated the ‘Poblaće 2025’ operation alongside the Special Police Unit, covering the Municipality of Pljevlja and the town of Poblaće, as part of another international cooperative effort.

The police revealed that this operation focused on combating cross-border crime, specifically targeting networks involved in migrant smuggling and the abduction of migrants in the region.

Furthermore, border police from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia were also involved in the ‘Poblaće 2025’ operation, conducting activities in their respective territories.

The statement highlighted the use of official vehicles, vessels, drones, and service dogs during the operations, with substantial assistance from Frontex providing material and technical resources.

“These joint operations and collaborations among Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Albania aim to dismantle smuggling networks functioning across the territories of these countries and along the wider ‘Balkan Route.’ This represents a formidable strategic and operational counter to cross-border crime and demonstrates the contribution of the region’s countries to overall regional and European security. These police actions are part of a planned strategy for addressing the issues of cross-border crime and smuggling, identified as a critical national priority in combatting crime,” they stated.

The police emphasized that these activities are part of broader, coordinated efforts that significantly enhance regional security and support shared policies regarding the rule of law and border control, with plans to intensify these efforts in the near future.

“Montenegro’s borders will no longer be porous. Through intersectoral and interagency collaboration, the Police Directorate is committed to providing a unified and decisive response to high-level security threats and cross-border crime,” the statement concluded.

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