Special police department determines whether they are a skalajarac Milos Mikica Lalevic and/or suspected of cigarette smuggling Vesko Petranović committed a new criminal offense from a cell in the Spuzg prison.
The investigation was launched after a search of the group room in the Remand Prison, where Petranović and Lalević were staying, during which a clue was found that may indicate a new criminal offense.
One of the sources explained that the search was carried out two nights ago, after which a man from Podgorica, suspected of cigarette smuggling, and a man from Danilovgrad, who is accused of being an associate of one of the leaders of the Skalja clan, were arrested. Radomir Boban Baćović, transferred to another organizational unit of the Supši prison and isolated.
Several sources from the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) said that Petranović and Lalević were transferred for security reasons.
One of the interlocutors said that the cell they were in had been searched at least six times since they were arrested.
UIKS did not specifically answer questions about the search of the room where suspects of cigarette smuggling and drug smuggling were staying until two days ago.
Instead of details - what was found, whether any proceedings were initiated against any detainees and/or officers, and how many times their cell was searched since they "moved in" - a general answer was provided.
"The Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions continuously implements measures and actions within the jurisdiction of this body in order to maintain order and security in the prison, with one of the basic activities being conducting searches. In the Podgorica Remand Prison, as well as in other organizational units where detainees and prisoners are held, non-selective and uniform searches of the premises where detainees are held are undertaken almost daily in order to prevent the introduction and possession of illegal items," said UIKS.
They add that the result of this method of work is reflected in the fact that since the beginning of the year, partial and according to a set plan, searches have been carried out several times in all premises where detainees are held.
They also state that during searches of premises, detained persons are also searched.
"We consider it necessary to emphasize that the search of detained persons is carried out after each return from a walk, visit, or escort outside the UIKS."
They also explained what they do if they find illegal items on detainees:
"A report is drawn up detailing the manner and circumstances of the discovery, after which disciplinary proceedings are initiated. Also, in certain cases, depending on the nature of the illegal items found, the competent authorities are immediately notified in order to take further action and establish the facts."
UIKS also emphasizes that when undertaking all official actions and performing official tasks, the correctness of the actions of officials is also appreciated.
"In the event that it is determined that a certain official has not performed his duties in accordance with the law and bylaws, or that he has committed a violation of official duty, a decision is made to initiate disciplinary proceedings against that official. Also, if it is assessed that the official's actions contain elements of a criminal offense, the competent authorities are notified without delay for further processing."
Accusations
Miloš Mikica Lalević, a resident of Danilovgrad, is under investigation by the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) on suspicion of being part of an international criminal organization allegedly led by fugitive Nikšić Baćović.
According to the SDT, this criminal organization has been operating throughout Europe for more than a decade, dealing with marijuana (skunk) smuggling, and in cooperation with the countries of the region, new investigations are expected for organizing kidnappings, as well as murders.
Serbian media reported that, after he was killed in Istanbul in 2022, Jovan Vukotic, Baćović with a Belgrader Luka Bojović took over the leadership of the Skaljari criminal clan.
Lalević was arrested on April 10 at the border crossing between Serbia and Montenegro, while he was in a car with his family. His arrest was part of a wider operation conducted by the Special Police Department (SPO) on the orders of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT).
A few hours later, during a chase on the highway from Kolašin to Podgorica, his alleged accomplice and fellow citizen was also arrested, Igor VujosevicDuring the following days, apartments, other properties, and the Lalević family house in the village of Mijokusovići were searched.
The SPO's criminal complaint also includes a resident of Subotica Alain Kurina, whom the media calls the head of the "Vojvodina clan", a native of Podgorica Damir Frljučkić, but and Vjekoslav Vjeko Lambulic, who has been in custody in Supca since October 2023.
Frljučkić was arrested on June 14th in Spain, on an arrest warrant issued for him by Montenegro.
Baćović's criminal organization, according to the SDT, operated in Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Turkey, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and other European countries since 2015.
"The criminal organization has repeatedly purchased the narcotic drug marijuana in Albania for sale, brought it into Montenegro for sale and transported it through Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, in order to sell it and sell it in Hungary," the SDT said earlier.
The owner of the company "Tehnomax", Vesko Petranović, was arrested on May 23 at Podgorica Airport, on suspicion of being the head of a criminal gang that smuggled cigarettes.
After exiting the plane, he was surrounded by inspectors in the airport building with the words SPO written on their jackets.
As part of the same operation, on the orders of the SDT, three officers of the Police Directorate were arrested that day - an officer of the Search Service of the Podgorica Security Department Marko Đurišić, but also two police officers in the Special Police Unit camp - Drazen Vukadinović i Davor LukacevicIn addition to them, they were also deprived of their freedom at that time. Dejan Jokic, Branko Celic i Ratomir Obrenic, who are suspected of having played a role in cigarette smuggling from the Port of Bar, through Montenegro to EU countries.
While working on this case, the SDT and SPO came to a reasonable suspicion that members of this criminal organization managed to organize numerous cigarette smuggling routes, the value of which is estimated at several tens of millions of euros.
The SDT believes that Petranović was involved in providing logistics for the transport of cigarettes, which were taken from the warehouses of the Port of Bar Free Zone through smuggling channels.
They took daggers, phones, chargers.
From the beginning of the year until July 9, officers of the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) conducted 839 searches, during which 48 mobile phones were seized, the institution previously informed "Vijesti".
Of the total number, in 21 cases attempts to smuggle mobile phones into prison facilities were prevented, with most of the attempts being carried out using drones.
UIKS explained that preventive security protection tasks are carried out in all organizational units almost on a daily basis and appropriate operational actions are taken in order to prevent all negative phenomena that could in any way jeopardize the security situation in prisons.
"...The methods of attempting to bring illegal items into prison are diverse and innovative, and as our activities targeting illegal items have become more frequent, the number of illegal items has also decreased significantly. Since the beginning of 2025, the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions has seized 48 mobile phones, of which 21 were prevented from being smuggled in (most of the attempts were made via drone). In addition, certain quantities of SIM cards, mobile phone chargers, improvised daggers, tablets, USB cables, as well as packages of unknown contents have been found," UIKS responded on July 9.
They announced that they will continue to take continuous measures and actions within their jurisdiction:
“Both in order to maintain order and security in the prison, and in order to prevent potential risks and challenges.”
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