On average, almost two foreign citizens are processed in Montenegro every day on suspicion of committing criminal offenses, according to a five-year cross-section covering the period from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2024.
During that period, a total of 3.334 foreign nationals were linked to 3.385 criminal offenses, meaning that an average of 667 people are prosecuted annually for 677 criminal offenses.
The Police Directorate said that from January 2025 to July 1 alone, 268 foreign citizens were registered for 333 criminal offenses.
"The Police Directorate processed a total of 2020 foreign citizens through the competent prosecutor's offices in the period from the beginning of 2024 to the end of 3.334 due to reasonable suspicion that they had committed 3385 criminal offenses. In the period from January 1 to July 1, 2025, a total of 268 foreign citizens were recorded in the records of perpetrators of criminal offenses for 333 criminal offenses," the UP, which it manages, announced. Lazar Scepanovic.
Serbian citizens are the most frequent perpetrators of criminal offenses among foreign citizens, followed by citizens of Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Turkey...
In those five years, Serbian citizens committed a total of 936 criminal offenses, Kosovars 439, Albanians 323, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina 321, Russia 260, Turkey 253...
Comparing the overall statistics by year, it appears that foreigners commit the largest number of crimes on the coast, i.e. in the territory belonging to the Police Regional Center "South", that in 2022 there was a decrease in the number of processed cases compared to the two previous years, but that a renewed increase was recorded in 2023 and 2024.
The most common types of criminal offenses in almost all years are traffic offenses, forgery, theft, drug abuse, and domestic violence.
ANNUAL DATA
During 2020, 725 cases were processed foreign citizens for 749 criminal offenses, and the most common offenses related to failure to comply with health regulations for the suppression of dangerous infectious diseases, theft, aggravated theft, document forgery, criminal offenses related to traffic safety, tax and contribution evasion, and criminal offenses related to drug abuse.
The police told "Vijesti" that the perpetrators of the crimes were mostly citizens of: Serbia - 169 people, Kosovo - 125, Albania - 109, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 78, Russia - 66 and Turkey - 47 people.
"Looking at the regional security centers, foreigners were recorded as perpetrators of criminal offenses at the level of the Regional Security Center 'Center' - 124 persons, the Regional Security Center 'South' - 526 persons, the Regional Security Center - 'West' - 30 persons, the Regional Security Center 'North' - 45 persons," the responses state.
During 2021, 690 foreign citizens were prosecuted for 707 criminal offenses, most often in the areas of failure to comply with health regulations for the suppression of dangerous infectious diseases, aggravated theft and robbery, document forgery, criminal offenses related to traffic safety, criminal offenses related to drug abuse, illegal possession of weapons and explosives, illegal trafficking, domestic and family violence.
"The largest number of perpetrators of criminal offenses are citizens of: Serbia - 203 persons, Kosovo - 95 persons, Albania - 72 persons, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 66 persons, Turkey - 50 persons, Russia - 36 persons, Macedonia - 20 persons, Ukraine - 19 persons, Croatia - 15 persons. Observed by regional security centers, foreigners were recorded as perpetrators of criminal offenses at the level of the Regional Security Center 'Center' - 110 persons, the Regional Security Center 'South' - 495 persons, the Regional Security Center 'West' - 19 persons, the Regional Security Center 'North' - 66 persons."
According to data from the Police Directorate, during 2022, 559 foreign citizens were prosecuted for 578 criminal offenses, most often related to traffic safety, document forgery, aggravated theft and robbery, drug abuse...
"The largest number of perpetrators of criminal offenses are citizens of: Serbia - 156 persons, Kosovo - 71 persons, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 55 persons, Turkey - 48 persons, Albania - 41 persons, Russia - 32 persons, Ukraine - 26 persons, Germany - 11 persons, Macedonia - 10 persons. Observed by regional security centers, foreigners were recorded as perpetrators of criminal offenses in the territory of jurisdiction of: Regional Security Center 'Center' - 124 persons, Regional Security Center 'South' - 366 persons, Regional Security Center 'West' - 24 persons, Regional Security Center 'North' - 45 persons."
During 2023, 655 foreign citizens were prosecuted for 658 criminal offenses, and practically the same offenses as in the previous year dominated...
"The largest number of perpetrators of criminal offenses are citizens of: Serbia - 204 persons, Kosovo - 75 persons, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 63 persons, Russia - 54 persons, Turkey - 52 persons, Albania - 51 persons, Ukraine - 20 persons, Macedonia - 18 persons, Germany - 13 persons."
Once again, the most crimes were committed in the territory under the jurisdiction of the Regional Security Center "South" - 434 people...
During 2024, 705 foreign citizens were prosecuted for 693 criminal offenses, and the largest number of perpetrators of criminal offenses were citizens of Serbia - 204, Kosovo - 73, Russia - 72, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 59, Turkey - 56, Albania - 50, Ukraine - 25, Macedonia - 22, Germany - 22 and Croatia - 11 people.
"Looking at the regional security centers, foreigners were registered as perpetrators of criminal offenses in the territory of jurisdiction of the following: Regional Security Center "Center" - 156 persons, Regional Security Center "South" - 438 persons, Regional Security Center "West" - 42 persons, Regional Security Center "North" - 69 persons," the Police Directorate told "Vijesti".
Violations of health regulations dominated during the coronavirus pandemic
The most common types of crimes by year:
2020: failure to comply with health regulations, theft, aggravated theft, forgery of documents, traffic offenses, tax evasion, drug abuse
2021: failure to comply with health regulations, theft, forgery, drugs, illegal weapons, domestic violence
2022: traffic, counterfeiting, theft, drugs, violence, illegal construction, minor bodily injury
2023: traffic, counterfeiting, theft, domestic violence, drugs
2024: traffic, domestic violence, forgery, theft, minor bodily injury, drugs
Daily cooperation with international partners
The Police Directorate explained that they cooperate on a daily basis with international partners, primarily Interpol, Europol, Selecao, and the Liaison Officers network.
"This involves the exchange of police operational data and information, and is carried out through secure communication channels. In addition to the control of these persons, police communication channels exchange data and information through the analytical databases of Interpol, Europol and Selec, which are owned by member states, and directly between the National Central Bureau of Interpol Podgorica with other members of international organizations. In certain areas in the fight against organized criminal groups and the suppression of transnational crime, operational meetings are organized, and joint investigation teams are formed, all under the auspices and support of international partners - Europol and Interpol. The Police Administration of Montenegro, in the context of modern global and regional security challenges, including the intensification of illegal migration and the omnipresent threat of transnational organized crime, is taking continuous and comprehensive measures to preserve public security and protect the interests of the state and its citizens, independently and in cooperation with other state bodies," the institution told the newspaper.
Considering Montenegro's position as a transit country on the migration route, as well as its position as an attractive tourist destination, the largest number of foreign citizens was processed on the territory of the Regional Security Center "South", which corresponds to migratory and tourist movements in the southern municipalities of the country, the Police Directorate announced.
"In order to respond more effectively to growing security challenges, the Police Directorate is intensively developing international and inter-institutional cooperation, primarily through the exchange of data with international partners, which enables timely risk recognition and adequate response. Also, by strengthening the capacities of the Border Police Sector, intensified border controls, as well as through participation in regional and international operations, Montenegro further confirms its commitment to actively contributing to regional and European security"...
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