The Special Police Department (SPO), on the order of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, arrested several people this morning in the continuation of the investigation against the head of the tobacco mafia, "Vijesti" has learned.
Among those arrested are Mileta Simanić from Nikšić, and Marko Mićković from the forwarding company "Knjaz", Ratka Mandić, director of the forwarding company "Atlant agent" from Bar, Đoko Lješković, Rajko Đurović.
SPO searches are ongoing throughout Montenegro.
According to the first data of "Vijesti", the arrest warrant contains the names of several important persons from the top of the tobacco mafia.
It is an extended investigation by the Special State Prosecutor's Office into the smuggling of at least 40 cigarette trucks, which were smuggled from the beginning of 2019 to November 2020.
For decades, Montenegro has been recognized in international circles as the "center of cigarette smuggling" in this part of Europe.
In the report of the European Commission from 2019, to the period covered by this SDT investigation, it was written that Montenegro was recognized "as a regional platform for cigarette smuggling and as an entry point to the European market"...
And in the report of the "Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime" from that year, it is stated that cigarette smuggling is the main form of organized crime in the Balkans, and that its center is Montenegro.
"...Where real and fake brands of cigarettes are produced and then smuggled through the Port of Bar to various EU countries, the Middle East and Africa", according to their report.
In that report, Bar is known as a hotspot for cigarette smuggling, that is, foreign brands arrive via Bar for re-export, while cigarettes produced in Montenegro are transported further...
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