The Council of the Supreme Court of Montenegro extended the detention of Saša Pekić, Srđan Jokić, Goran Janketic, Dragan Backović, Predrag Vučurović, Predrag Mijušković and Nikola Glomazić for another three months.
They were arrested on December 27th last year on suspicion of having played an important role in international cigarette smuggling for years.
A financial investigation against them was launched three days after they were arrested on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT), which suspects them of being involved in a smuggling scheme for an international tobacco cartel for years.
"The Council of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, deciding on the proposal of the Special State Prosecutor's Office of Montenegro of March 24, 2025, to extend the detention of the defendants SP, SJ, GJ, DB, PV, PM and NG, has issued a Decision to extend the detention of the defendants for another three months, i.e. until June 27, 2025," the Supreme Court statement states.
It is added that the defendants' detention was extended due to reasonable suspicion that they committed the following criminal offenses: SP criminal offense of creating a criminal organization and two criminal offenses of smuggling, SJ criminal offense of creating a criminal organization, two criminal offenses of smuggling and the criminal offense of money laundering, GJ criminal offense of creating a criminal organization and two criminal offenses of smuggling, DB two criminal offenses of creating a criminal organization, two extended criminal offenses of abuse of official position and the criminal offense of money laundering, PV criminal offense of creating a criminal organization and the extended criminal offense of abuse of official position, PM criminal offense of creating a criminal organization and the extended criminal offense of abuse of official position and NG criminal offense of creating a criminal organization and the extended criminal offense of smuggling.
"The detention of all defendants has been extended due to the risk of flight, and in relation to the defendants SP and DB, also due to the unhindered conduct of the proceedings, because these are criminal offenses for which the law can impose a prison sentence of ten years, or a more severe punishment, and which offenses are particularly serious due to the manner of commission and consequences," the statement reads.
The Supreme Court stated that the defendants were remanded in custody by a Decision of the investigating judge of the Higher Court in Podgorica on December 29, 2024, and extended by a Decision of the panel of that court on January 24, 2025, so that according to the Decision of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, their detention may last until June 27, 2025.
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