State-affiliated actors maintain deep ties to organized crime, facilitating illegal activities through corruption and regulatory weaknesses.
This is stated, among other things, in the report on the Organized Crime Index for 2025 published by the Global Initiative to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), a civil society organization based in Geneva, in the section relating to Montenegro.
Montenegro ranks tenth according to the Global Organized Crime Index for 2025.
44 European countries were analyzed.
The Global Organized Crime Index assesses the level of crime and resilience to organized crime in 193 countries around the world.
GI-TOC Executive Director Mark Shaw pointed out that organized crime "undermines democracy, the sovereignty of states, and even international peace and security."
"The Global Organized Crime Index is not just a tool for measuring crime: it is a mirror that reflects what is happening within states and the international system," he said.
The Kavački and Škaljar clans have a significant influence on the country's criminal landscape.
When it comes to the level of resistance to crime, Montenegro ranks 37th.
The report highlights that Montenegro is home to two dominant mafia groups – the Kavački and Škaljari clans, which have a significant influence on the country's criminal landscape.
They note that their operations extend throughout Montenegro, but also to other countries.
"Despite increased police efforts, including arrests of key members, these groups continue to control criminal markets through recruitment of new members, even in prisons," the report says.
The clans' main sources of income are cocaine trafficking and money laundering, with Europol estimating that they control at least 30 percent of the cocaine arriving in Europe from South America, it said.
The clans, it added, maintain strong ties with criminal organizations in the European Union (EU), Latin America and the Western Balkans, while the ports of Bar and Kotor represent key entry points for cocaine smuggling.
"In addition, they engage in extortion and racketeering, using violence and intimidation to maintain their criminal activities, which has led to an escalation of conflict and an increase in the number of murders between clans," the report says, noting that Montenegro is among the countries with the highest number of firearm incidents in the region.
The report's authors also indicate that leaked encrypted communications revealed how criminal proceeds are used for political protection and influence over the judiciary and police.
"State-linked actors maintain deep ties to organized crime, facilitating illicit activities through corruption and regulatory weaknesses."
They add that senior officials were involved in transnational criminal activities, including drug trafficking, illegal tobacco trade and illegal logging.
"Although investigations and arrests are being carried out, the constant involvement of state officials weakens the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies," they conclude, pointing to evidence of criminal groups interfering in elections in Montenegro.
They also note that the private sector in Montenegro enables the work of organized crime, especially through real estate trading and financial criminal activities.
In addition, it is emphasized that financial crime in Montenegro is deeply rooted and characterized by poor management of public funds, irregularities in the financing of political activities and large-scale corruption.
"Irregularities in the use of EU funds and fraud in privatization processes further highlight systemic weaknesses in the financial sector."
The report also shows that human trafficking is still a problem in Montenegro.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Russian citizens among the victims, it was stated.
In addition, Roma children are often forced into begging and illegal marriages, while authorities often treat such cases as a "cultural practice."
The conclusion is that border security is a challenge, given that Montenegro serves as a key transit point for various illegal activities.
The report's authors note that despite commitments to combat organized crime and corruption, political divisions and instability continue to hinder effective governance and the implementation of legislative reforms.
They also point out that high-profile acquittals in money laundering cases raise concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the quality of investigations.
Serbia is the worst in the Western Balkans
Serbia is the worst-ranked country in the Western Balkans according to the Global Organized Crime Index for 2025.
It is ranked fourth out of 44 European countries analyzed.
Only Russia, Ukraine and Italy ranked worse.
According to this year's report for 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is in sixth place, while data for Kosovo has not been published.
Key state actors in Serbia
In terms of crime levels at the top, in terms of resistance to crime, Serbia is near the bottom of the list - in 35th position out of 44 European countries analyzed in the Global Index.
In Serbia, "state actors play a key role in the organized crime landscape," the report's authors assessed, pointing out that political elites allegedly influence key criminal markets.
They add that corruption within state institutions facilitates both illegal financial transactions and protects criminal businesses, and that "high-ranking state officials have been linked to notorious figures from the world of organized crime."
"Serbia remains one of the main smuggling hubs in the Western Balkans," it notes.
Also, according to the report, Serbia is an integral part of the heroin smuggling route to Western Europe, while Serbian criminal networks play a significant role in global cocaine trafficking.
The report also underlines that this country is "host to several mafia groups" which, despite the arrests of key members, continue to dominate various segments of the European drug trade.
"Football club fan groups are also involved in criminal activities, providing logistical support for smuggling operations and participating in paramilitary activities," they add.
It is also mentioned in the context of arms trafficking.
Serbia, they say, is a transit country in this trade, with weapons originating from the wars in the former Yugoslavia, as well as from Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and potentially Ukraine - passing through Serbia towards Western Europe.
"Criminal networks from Kosovo, Albania and Serbia facilitate this trade, while corrupt state officials have allegedly been involved in illegal arms shipments."
It also adds that in the last few years, there has been an "increase in arms smuggling from Serbia to Kosovo, including military-type weapons."
The authors of the Global Index also address Serbia's role in human trafficking.
"Reports indicate that individuals within the government and police are involved in forced labor, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, and large-scale arms smuggling, with minimal accountability," it said.
It also mentions growing ties with Russia, China and the Gulf states, which "raise concerns about the lack of transparency of foreign investments and infrastructure projects." This, it points out, fuels suspicions of corruption.
Financial crime in Serbia is deeply rooted, it is assessed, adding that "high-ranking state officials are often involved."
The private sector in Serbia, the report states, is deeply intertwined with organized crime - "a large number of companies operate under the influence of high-ranking political officials", which is why they "receive preferential treatment in tenders and investments, often serving as intermediaries for the flow of illicit money".
On the other hand, they note, businesses that are not connected to political circles suffer constant pressure and inspections.
They also point out that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has significant influence over public institutions, the media, and the electoral process, which contributes to doubts about democratic governance.
The Global Organized Crime Index for 2025 also states that organized crime groups in Serbia are used to intimidate political opponents and manipulate electoral processes.
In addition, it is added that the political elite possesses almost unlimited power, while the public, on the other hand, has a low level of trust in democratic institutions.
In this context, it is also concluded that "widespread protests reflect dissatisfaction with governance."
The global index also addresses the use of security services for political purposes in Serbia.
Such use, "along with reports of links between law enforcement officers and organized crime groups," has further, they say, "reduced public trust."
"Although Serbia has established anti-corruption agencies and introduced measures to improve accountability, their effectiveness has been undermined by weak implementation, lack of resources and institutional independence," is one of the conclusions.
It is also noted that cases of corruption and organized crime often do not lead to convictions.
Corruption present at all levels of government in BiH
When it comes to resilience to crime, BiH is among the lowest ranked countries – in 42nd place.
State actors involved in crime play a key role in enabling organized crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the report says.
"Corruption is present at all levels of government, and high-ranking officials are linked to drug trafficking, financial crime and the illegal exploitation of natural resources."
They recall that international sanctions have been imposed on some of the leading political figures due to their contribution to corruption and undermining of state institutions.
The report's authors also point out that some police officers were arrested for direct involvement in smuggling operations, while politicians used their influence to protect criminal networks.
Human trafficking is highlighted as a particular problem. The authors of the report note that women and girls are exposed to sexual exploitation, while Roma children are often victims of forced begging, sex trafficking and domestic slavery.
They also add that migrant smuggling is deeply rooted, that BiH represents a key transit point along the Balkan migrant route, and that corruption among border police members further exacerbates the problem.
"This market is closely linked to arms smuggling, with reports indicating that criminal organisations sell weapons to migrants involved in smuggling networks," it notes.
The war in Ukraine, it added, has led to an increase in arms trafficking, with weapons from BiH, despite regulatory restrictions, allegedly reaching conflict zones.
They also note that the country functions as a transit center for cocaine from South America destined for the Western European market.
The report also assesses that foreign actors have a significant influence on organized crime in the country, exploiting weak border control and a divided political system.
"Regional criminal organizations from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Albania have a strong presence, cooperating with local actors in drug and arms trafficking."
In addition, Turkish, Saudi, and West Asian actors are involved in illegal financial schemes, while Russian-backed groups are using the political proximity of the Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska to Moscow to strengthen their influence.
It is emphasized that financial crime is widespread in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that many private companies serve as intermediaries in money laundering and financial fraud, and that companies owned by politically connected persons have a privileged position in public procurement procedures.
Illegal logging is also highlighted as a widespread problem, in which, they say, political elites and local officials are often involved.
They add that illegal coal and timber exploitation is also carried out with the support of political figures who issue false permits in exchange for bribes.
It concludes that BiH faces ongoing challenges in the area of political governance, particularly in the fight against organized crime and corruption, and that the country's divided political landscape, particularly the secessionist policies of Republika Srpska and its refusal to respect state-level institutions, further complicate governance.
The Global Organized Crime Index report also states that the judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina faces inefficiency, political interference, and uneven application of the law, which makes it difficult to effectively prosecute organized crime and corruption.
They believe that the practice of buying out prison sentences of up to a year is particularly problematic.
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