UP: Several hundred firearms issued to more than 300 persons of operational interest or connected to OKG

Several hundred firearms were issued to more than 300 people who are listed in police records as persons of operational interest, or persons associated with organized crime groups (OCG).

This was announced today by the Police Administration (UP).

The Police Department said that as part of a broader strategy to raise the level of security, through the "Browning" intelligence project, they are conducting "a detailed and comprehensive analysis related to the issuance of firearms licenses to persons of operational interest and persons associated with organized crime groups, issued in previous years."

"Given the above, the Police Directorate has initiated a review of lists and security checks on its own initiative, in accordance with Article 13 of the Law on Weapons, which clearly stipulates that persons who have been convicted or are being prosecuted for certain criminal offenses with elements of violence, misdemeanors or other circumstances and behavioral disorders that indicate that weapons could be misused, cannot have a permit to possess weapons. Due to the measures and actions taken, during the actions of law enforcement authorities, certain weapons were not found with the persons to whom they were registered, and appropriate administrative procedures were initiated in accordance with the law with the aim of annulling illegally issued permits and confiscating weapons. Current data indicates that several hundred firearms have been issued to more than 300 persons who are recorded in police records as being of operational interest, or connected to organized criminal groups," the statement reads.

The Police Department added that the Regional Security Center "Centar" has initiated procedures with the competent branches of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to examine the fulfillment of the legal grounds for further possession of weapons for 97 people residing in Podgorica, Cetinje and Danilovgrad.

"Weapons were seized from a certain number of persons, while the procedures for issuing decisions on the seizure of weapons for persons with negative security checks are underway. Through the activities undertaken, officers of the Regional Security Center 'South' controlled 94 persons of operational interest who were in legal possession of 212 firearms. On that occasion, 81 firearms were seized, while administrative proceedings were initiated in relation to the remaining 132 firearms, in accordance with the Law on Weapons.

The Police Department said that officers from the Regional Security Center "West" initiated 39 administrative procedures to review approvals and confiscate weapons.

"Of this number, eight procedures have been completed, while in the remaining 31, searches were conducted of premises in which weapons were not found with the owner, where further measures and prosecution of persons followed in accordance with the provisions of the Weapons Law," the UP said.

The institution stated that in relation to the activities in relation to 72 persons of operational interest on the territory of the Regional Security Center "North" who had weapons in legal possession, 19 weapons owned by four persons of operational interest were seized during searches, and that 11 weapons were returned, while it was noted that 19 weapons that they had in legal possession were not found with six persons of operational interest.

"The Police Directorate continues with restrictive measures and detailed security checks of the circumstances under which persons of operational interest, and persons characterized by negative behavior with elements of violence, are provided with a favorable status when obtaining approval for the acquisition and carrying of weapons. We remind you that in the activities so far, in several municipalities, a large number of managers and employees of regional administrative units have been processed on suspicion that they committed criminal acts of abuse of office by exceeding their authority, and that similar activities will continue in the coming period. Through comprehensive security reforms, the Police Directorate makes a direct contribution to raising the level of collective security and reducing risks to citizens," the UP statement reads.