Montenegrin citizens voluntarily surrendered 63 weapons, 1.806 pieces of ammunition and six hand grenades on Thursday, the Police Directorate announced.
The weapons and ammunition were handed over as part of the "Respect Life, Return Weapons" campaign, which the Police Directorate has been implementing for many years.
The police said that in Podgorica, Danilovgrad and Cetinje, citizens voluntarily surrendered 24 weapons, of which 11 were pistols and 13 were rifles, as well as 723 pieces of ammunition of various types and calibers.
"Nine weapons were voluntarily returned to police officers in Bar, Ulcinj, Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi, including three pistols and six rifles, as well as 71 pieces of ammunition, three hand grenades and four hand-held rocket launchers," the statement said.
According to the police, 18 weapons were voluntarily surrendered in Bijelo Polje, Berane, Mojkovac and Rožaje, of which eight were pistols and ten were rifles, as well as 644 pieces of ammunition of various types and calibers.
The statement states that three hand grenades, seven detonator caps, two meters of slow-burning fuse, commercial explosives, gunpowder, as well as several weapon parts were also returned to the police in those cities.
"In Nikšić and Pljevlja, 12 firearms were voluntarily surrendered, of which six were pistols and six were rifles, as well as 368 pieces of ammunition," the police said.
They said that since the beginning of January, a total of 3.059 weapons, 102.715 pieces of ammunition, 333 hand grenades, as well as several hundred weapon parts and explosive devices have been voluntarily surrendered to them.
The police reminded that keeping weapons owned by family members or relatives, regardless of whether probate proceedings have been conducted before the competent court, constitutes an illegal weapon under the Weapons Act, until one of the legal heirs obtains a permit to possess that weapon from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
They said that citizens can call them at 122 and inform them that they want to return their weapons, without any legal, criminal or misdemeanor liability and regardless of whether they own the weapons illegally or legally.
"We would also like to remind you that the Police Directorate has launched a free SOS telephone number 19969, as well as an e-mail address sos@policija.me, for reporting threatening behavior and violence related to weapon possession, as a mechanism for closer cooperation and active participation of the police and citizens in order to create a safer environment," the statement said.
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