In the money laundering investigation launched against the arrested security guard Duško Golubović, officers of the Special Police Department (SPO) seized documentation from the Podgorica-based tourist agency "Grand" two days ago, owned by Happy Kankaras, close to the prime minister Milojko Spajić and his Europe Now Movement (PES).
"Vijesti" was told by several sources from the political and security sectors that investigators were interested in Golubović's travel arrangements, as well as the agency's documentation on renting the house of a former employee of the National Security Agency and the Police Directorate.
In response to questions from "Vijesti", Kankaraš claims that they provided the inspectors with documentation for tourist services for some of their clients.
"Following your inquiry, I would like to inform you that, as in all previous cases, we have, in communication with the Special Police Department, duly submitted documentation related to tourist services for some of our clients," reads the email signed by Kankaraš, CEO of TA Grand.
Kankaraš did not respond to "Vijesti"'s question about the rental agreement for Golubović's house.
Golubović was arrested on May 9th on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor's Office.
"Vijesti" was previously told by multiple sources that an expansion of the investigation in which the retired secret and public police operative was deprived of his liberty is expected.
The Special Prosecutor's Office suspects him of having acquired valuable family assets in cash and real estate throughout Montenegro and abroad by laundering millions of euros earned through cigarette smuggling.
Golubović's defense attorney, lawyer Velibor Marković, previously told "Vijesti" that the files of the Police Directorate and the Prosecutor's Office "only arbitrarily state that this is a criminal activity of cigarette smuggling, without the essential characteristics of that act."
At the request of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, on the same day that Golubović was arrested, his property in several Montenegrin cities, which was registered in his name and the names of his family members, was frozen.
This was done because special prosecutors were conducting a financial investigation against Golubović, in parallel with the criminal investigation.
During a months-long investigation by the SDT and the Special Police Department, according to "Vijesti" sources, numerous pieces of evidence were collected about suspicious cash transactions, which were used to purchase luxury real estate in Montenegro, including elite settlements on the coast, but also abroad.
Traces of bank accounts through which suspicious financial operations were allegedly carried out were also found. According to unofficial information, foreign partners also assisted the Montenegrin authorities in the investigation. Lawyer Marković claims that his client has all the documentation on the origin of his assets.
Montenegrin investigators found part of the evidence in correspondence from the once-protected Sky app.
CONTROVERSY AROUND “UNCLE”
Sreten Kankaraš is a Montenegrin businessman who has come into the public spotlight due to his alleged influence on political processes in Montenegro, especially in relation to the Europe Now Movement and alleged staffing in state institutions.
According to available information, Kankaraš has been the owner and general manager of “Grand” since 2004. He is also known as an aikido instructor and an active member of the business community.
Kankaras became the subject of political controversy due to allegations that he had significant influence over PES and participated in making decisions on appointments to state institutions.
President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic In September last year, he stated that Kankaraš had great influence on PES and that he was negotiating with the Democrats for a new police director.
"Uncle Milojko Spajić "Sreten Kankaraš had a great influence on PES and was negotiating with the Democrats for a new police director," Milatović said in the show "Last Sunday" on Aplus Television in September 2024, alluding to the dispute between the two ruling parties in March over the nomination and election of the acting head of the Police Directorate.
Leader of the Civic Movement URA and former Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic He also claimed that Kankaraš had the final say over personnel in the government and was a potential candidate for director of the National Security Agency (ANB).
There are various claims about a family connection between Kankaraš and Prime Minister Spajić - unlike Milatović and Abazović, others, including the head of the PES parliamentary group Vasilija Čarapić, claim that Kankaraš is not Spajić's uncle, but "a nice gentleman and businessman from Podgorica who helps PES"...
In early April last year, Spajić denied in the state parliament that he was his biological uncle. At the time, he said that he had two uncles with the last name Lopušina, neither of whom lived in Montenegro and were not involved in government staffing.
Previously, MP Abazović asked him what his uncle's role was in personnel policy and decision-making in the Government.
In January 2025, Abazović announced that "the uncle of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, Sreten Kankaraš, is the political branch of retired National Security Agency (ANB) officer Duško Golubović."
The fact that Kankaraš and Spajić are related was confirmed three days ago by both the PES MP and the chairman of the parliamentary security committee. Miodrag Mišo Laković.
He, while appearing on the Reflektor show on TV Vijesti, and answering the question of who among the people close to Prime Minister Spajić was in daily contact with Golubović, replied: "That I know of - no one."
"And what is being imputed to a family relationship between Prime Minister Spajić, I think is an acquaintance of which I cannot say what intensity, but it is a completely benign relationship in a civil sense," Laković added, confirming that he was talking about Sreten Kankaraš.
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