Cigarettes worth over 100.000 euros stolen from seven kiosks in Podgorica, three people arrested

Police arrested IJ (40) and Ž.N (40) on suspicion of stealing cigarettes worth over 100.000 euros from ten premises of a company in Podgorica since the beginning of the year.

MM (44) was also arrested on suspicion of committing the crime of concealment. He is suspected of selling cigarettes even though he knew they were stolen.

"In the previous three months, from 02.01.2025 to 24.03.2025, IJ and Ž.N. broke into ten premises of a company in the Podgorica area, from which they stole cigarettes worth over one hundred thousand euros (101.305,90 euros), which MM then sold even though he knew they had been stolen. The suspects IJ and Ž.N. are suspected of breaking into the premises of this company by first neutralizing the sound alarm using foam, and then using suitable tools - crowbars, sheet metal shears and a wrench - they broke the locks, and then broke the front doors of the kiosks located in seven locations - in the streets of Kralja Nikola, Vasa Raičkovića, Svetozara Markovića, 27. marta, Bratstva i jedinstva, 13. jula and Jovana Tomaševića," the Police Directorate announced.

It is added that they stole cigarettes and alcoholic beverages from the premises, and then, as is suspected, handed the cigarettes over to MM, who was in charge of sales.

The statement also states that work is underway to identify the person to whom MM sold the stolen goods.

"Police officers deprived these three persons of their liberty in the so-called 'shelter apartment' in Podgorica, after which, pursuant to an order obtained from the Basic Court in Podgorica, a search of the apartment and other premises was carried out, during which traces related to the commission of the aforementioned criminal offenses were seized, as well as a scale for precise measurement. Searches were also carried out at five other locations used by the suspect IJ. During these searches, items suspected of being used to commit the aforementioned criminal offenses, namely for breaking into kiosks, were found in two business premises located in the Zabjelo settlement, and in addition, measuring instruments used to neutralize the alarms on the buildings were also found," it was announced.

After a hearing at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, the prosecutor ordered their detention in police premises until they were brought before the competent investigating judge.