Suspect arrested for murder in Budva, police say he is a member of a criminal group

Nikola Boljević (24) from Podgorica was arrested in Spuž on suspicion of killing Simo Marković (52) from that city in Budva on December 30th.

The Police Department announced that the suspect is listed in their records as a member of an organized crime group, and that he is "interesting from the aspect of drug abuse and trafficking and the illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosives."

Video: Police Department

"Vijesti" previously reported that the body of a man from Budva was found in a parking lot near the village church in Markovići.

"Police officers, in cooperation and coordination with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, after taking urgent investigative and comprehensive police-prosecutorial measures and actions, have solved the criminal offense of murder committed on December 30, 2025 in the afternoon, in the town of Markovići, Budva Municipality, when SM (52) from Budva was fatally shot due to the use of a firearm. By taking numerous operational, tactical, technical, forensic and evidentiary measures and actions in coordination with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office and the Forensic Center in Danilovgrad, police officers identified the perpetrator of this serious criminal offense in less than 24 hours from the moment of the murder, and it is a person NB (24) from Podgorica. There is a reasonable suspicion that on December 30, NB fired several projectiles at SM using a firearm, killing SM on that occasion, after which the perpetrator fled in an unknown direction," the statement reads.

They point out that the incident was reported to police officers later, a few hours after the crime was committed, or "with a significant time gap, which was an aggravating circumstance for the proceedings, especially considering the fact that the scene is located on the outskirts of the city, about a 15-minute drive from the city center."

By undertaking investigative measures and actions, in intensive cooperation with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, as they said, evidence was obtained that reasonably points to the suspicion that NB committed the criminal offense of murder and the criminal offense of illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosives.

"Police officers of the Police Administration - the competent organizational units of the Crime Prevention Sector and the Security Departments of Budva and Podgorica, through synchronized action, thorough planning, located and in a tactically precise action deprived NB of his liberty in the territory of Spuže, Danilovgrad Municipality, where, with the support of members of the Special Police Unit, he was deprived of his liberty and taken to the Security Department of Podgorica," they added in the statement.

They say that the Police Directorate "strongly continues" with the implementation of specific activities "with the aim of identifying logistical support and related persons who participated in the commission of this criminal offense."

Boljević will be brought before the acting state prosecutor at the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, along with a criminal report, within the legal deadline.

The police said that the public will be informed in a timely manner about all further measures and actions taken.

Arrested in March 2025.

The Police Directorate subsequently recalled in a statement that the suspect in the murder in Budva was arrested at the end of March last year. on suspicion of having committed a criminal offense in Podgorica - attempted murder.

"NB is suspected of having committed attempted murder on February 22, 2025, on Nikšićki put Street in Podgorica, where, through operational-tactical and investigative measures and actions, NB was identified and soon located in a rented apartment, the so-called "shack" apartment in Budva, after which a search of the apartment was conducted and several packages of marijuana, Xanax tablets, money, and mobile devices were found," the statement reads.

They remind that, after the expiry of the detention ordered by the competent court, he was released to defend himself from freedom in further proceedings.