The available number of officers in the Border Police Sector is not sufficient to secure the state border, and from the perspective of risk analysis, the border with Albania and Kosovo is the most vulnerable, and poor infrastructure, lack of equipment and clothing are often a challenge for border guards... They explained that the SGP, in relation to the systematization, is missing more than a third of officers, but they claim that despite limited resources - technical and human, they still provide a stable border security system.
"When it comes to the human resources potential of the Border Police Sector, the current occupancy rate in relation to the number of positions provided for in the Regulation on Internal Organization and Systematization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is around 63 percent. The greatest shortage of personnel is in the Regional Border Police Center South... Therefore, the available number of officers is not sufficient to secure the state border and this is currently one of the biggest challenges we face. However, despite this, the Border Police Sector achieves very good results every day in combating cross-border crime, by finding excise goods, forged documents, smuggled luxury vehicles, weapons and money," the security institution responded to Vijesti.
They pointed out that migratory movement on the Western Balkan route is constant, but that the number of registered migrants in Montenegro last year was 40 percent lower than the previous year.
"From the perspective of risk analysis, registered crimes in the field of cross-border crime and illegal migration, and other parameters based on which the threat is assessed, the most vulnerable border is the one with the Republic of Albania and Kosovo. Smugglers often use inaccessible mountainous and swampy terrain, the distance of the border line, sometimes with the logistics of the local population for their criminal activities. The focus of the Border Police Sector is on those vulnerable sections of the state border, which are covered by the available technical and personnel capacities," said the UP in response to the question of Vijesti whether there are certain points on the border that they consider particularly risky and why.
"1.009 people were registered and prosecuted last year for illegally crossing the state border outside of a border crossing," the Police Directorate said.
They specified that, taking into account the configuration of the terrain, i.e. the largely inaccessible hilly and mountainous area of our state border, the greatest challenges faced by the Border Police Sector are of a logistical nature:
"And they relate to infrastructure, lack of technical means, stationary and mobile electronic surveillance systems, impassability of roads and paths along the state border, especially in winter conditions, as well as lack of human resources."
"Given that Montenegro's strategic goal is to join the European Union, it is important to note that state authorities with jurisdiction at the border, due to assuming responsibility for controlling the external borders of the European Union, are faced with numerous obligations to accept European Union standards and best practices in the field of border security. Therefore, smuggling, cross-border crime and illegal migration on the one hand and the establishment of EU standards in all segments - infrastructure, equipment, training and a sufficient number of officers - are our constant challenges," explained the Public Relations Service of the Police.
Emphasizing that despite the fact that the Border Police Sector has limited resources, they provide a stable border security system, the Border Police Department reminded that one of the main tasks of Montenegro on its path to membership in the European Union is to prepare for taking over the security of the external border of the European Union in accordance with the standards:
"Which implies adequate infrastructure, equipment, electronic systems, harmonization of legislation and a sufficient number of trained officials in accordance with the standards that all European Union countries are obliged to apply. It is important to note that Montenegro must ensure these conditions before entering the European Union."
Speaking about cooperation with the border police of neighboring countries, the Border Police Department said that they continuously hold meetings at the local, regional, and central levels.
"Joint border patrols are being carried out with all border police forces of the countries in the region."
"Also, in recent years, two joint police cooperation centers have been established in which our officers are engaged, where they work on a daily basis and exchange information with colleagues from the region. The Joint Center for Police Cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro has been established in Trebinje, and the Joint Center for Police Cooperation of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo in Plav. Efficient exchange of information is key to successfully combating illegal migration and cross-border crime, so activities are being undertaken to strengthen the role of these centers and insist on a greater number of exchanged information, statistical data and analytical products."
Border guards in the fight against crime
The Police Directorate pointed out that in mid-2023, the Instruction on joint action of organizational units of the Police Directorate in the field of cross-border crime was adopted, which, as they explained, represented major steps towards fulfilling the long-standing recommendation of the European Commission in terms of ensuring a stronger role and autonomy of the border police in criminal investigations related to border security.
"Direct access to Europol's channel for international operational police cooperation - SIENA - was also obtained, so that operational-investigative measures and actions were initiated and cases were opened in cooperation with the competent prosecutors and criminal police."
Responding to questions about recent actions in which the SGP participated or led, they highlighted the “Alibaba” case.
"Which was conducted by the Border Police Sector together with the Crime Prevention Sector and the Special Police Department over several months last year, and which related to the smuggling of migrants to European Union countries. As a result of this case, 15 people were prosecuted for smuggling 352 migrants through the territory of Montenegro. On this occasion, 18 mobile phones, seven vehicles, money, travel documents and other items were seized," the UP said.
They also stated that last summer, working together with their colleagues from Albania, on the very border between Montenegro and that country, a marijuana plantation was discovered and an operation was carried out in which a plant of 11 thousand marijuana plants was found.
"These actions have been praised by Europol, Frontex and other international organizations and can represent an example of good joint work in the region. Strategic and operational priorities are systematically and continuously coordinated with Europol through EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform for Combating Criminal Threats), within which operational actions are implemented," the UP responded.
Border guards are being replaced by technical equipment and soldiers
The authorities are trying to compensate for the lack of personnel in the Border Police Sector with technical means and joint work with members of the Army of Montenegro.
When asked about the number of patrols in the busiest places, the security institution said that it depends on the risk analysis.
"The number of patrols, or officers engaged in state border surveillance, largely depends on the risk analysis. Therefore, planning and setting up the service is conditioned by the problems on the one hand and the available human resources on the other. There are 30 border crossings in Montenegro, the constant functioning of which must be ensured, on a 24/7 basis. With the retirement of a number of officers, we are forced to engage some officers from the patrol activity at border crossings, which affects the reduction of the number of patrols in state border surveillance. The missing number is being replaced by technical means and through joint work with members of the Army of Montenegro in the previous period, in accordance with the decision of the Defense and Security Council. Of exceptional importance in this regard is the work with Frontex officers, with whose equipment, vehicles and officers we jointly guard the border and compensate for the shortcomings."
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