On the territory of Montenegro, in the sphere of money laundering and the shadow economy, operational data from security services indicate that V. Jakić from Žabljak as one of the key exponents of the network that is associated with Call of the Veselinovićs, whom local authorities describe as the leader of an organized crime group.
According to intelligence, Jakić, who is a person of interest from a security perspective with Serbian citizenship, appears as an operational link for the realization of Veselinović's interests in the region.
Security sector operatives have recorded that, together with several entrepreneurs from Serbia and other countries, he is participating in a series of investment projects whose processes and ultimate goals are being monitored in detail. Some of these projects, according to sources of "Vijesti", are related to Montenegro.
"It is being checked whether Zvonko Veselinović is connected, directly or through his exponents, to certain concessions on the territory of Montenegro," a source in the security sector told "Vijesti" unofficially.
Although he has lived and worked in Belgrade for more than three decades, Jakić, according to previous operational data, has been linked to cigarette and drug smuggling, loan sharking, suspicious financial transactions and money laundering.
Regardless of the formal business frameworks in which individual projects are presented, security structures estimate that behind them lies a sprawling network of financial and operational interests, with potential implications for the economic and security stability of the country.
Zvonko Veselinović is known for close associate Andrej Vučić, the brother of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić.
Serbian media call him a controversial businessman and the lord of northern Kosovo, and he is blacklisted in the United States.
At one time, he was linked to the organization of barricades and riots in northern Kosovo, the murder of politician Oliver Ivanovic, and oil, drug, and weapons smuggling, but he was never held accountable for any of this.
Radio Free Europe previously reported that he was tried twice in Serbia for embezzlement and abuse of office and was acquitted both times.
They also allege that he was brought to the police station in 2023, when he denied allegations that he ordered and paid for the murders of police inspectors who discovered a marijuana plantation in Jovanjica in 2019.
Veselinović's business partner Milan Radoičić He was linked to armed attacks on the Kosovo police.
Their construction companies are engaged in government projects and record millions in profits.
Unlike Radoičić, who was the vice-president of the largest party of Kosovo Serbs, Veselinović never held a political position.
However, officials in Belgrade labeled him, along with Radoičić, as the "protector of Serbs in Kosovo."
He was arrested for the first time, as reported by the media at the time, in 2003 on suspicion of selling drugs. Three years later, the court in Kraljevo, Serbia, acquitted him of responsibility.
He was arrested in Kosovo in 2005 for allegedly stealing a car.
As published by the Crime and Corruption Research Network (KRIK), in the 2001 Serbian Police Organized Crime White Book, he is mentioned as the leader of a group that stole and smuggled cars in Kosovo.
The group allegedly also engaged in extortion and falsification of documents.
He came into the public spotlight again during the barricades in Kosovo in 2011 and 2012, which were erected by local members of the Serbian community in protest against the presence of Kosovo police and customs officers on the northern borders.
The NATO mission in Kosovo (KFOR) has marked Zvonko and his brother Zarko Veselinovic as organizers of barricades, riots and attacks on members of that mission.
In the same year, in 2011, the world media also wrote about Veselinović.
The Herald Tribune and the New York Times linked him to an Albanian businessman. Mentor Bećiri (Beqiri) with whom he allegedly smuggled oil.
In one of his rare interviews with the Belgrade tabloid "Pečat" in October 2011, Veselinović rejected the accusations of smuggling and stated that the barricades in northern Kosovo "do not work in his favor."
CBCG: We have limited interest rates
One of the interlocutors of "Vijesti", who has been in debt bondage for a decade and a half, claims that loan sharks, together with certain microcredit financial institutions, push debtors into a vicious circle of problematic loans, where debt accumulates rapidly while no one checks creditworthiness or guarantors.
He also said that the loan is obtained by bribing officials, and that everyone would be arrested if the Special Police Department raided the MFIs where these schemes are implemented.
Responding to questions from "Vijesti" from the Central Bank of Montenegro, they explained that they supervise the operations of creditors to whom they have issued operating permits, and that usury is within the jurisdiction of other authorities.
"The Central Bank of Montenegro, within the scope of its legally prescribed powers, supervises the operations of creditors to whom it has issued an operating license, including control of the level of interest rates and total costs of consumer loans. This supervision covers banks, microcredit financial institutions and financial leasing providers, with the aim of ensuring transparent and responsible lending and protecting the rights of financial service users. In order to strengthen consumer protection, the Central Bank initiated the introduction of the highest permitted effective interest rate on consumer loans through the new Law on Consumer Loans, which has been applied since November 2025. This has set a clear and binding limit on the total costs of borrowing for citizens for the first time. In this way, excessively high interest rates have been limited and a stronger consumer protection mechanism has been established, in line with the practice of the European Union member states," the CBCG replied.
They point out that in addition, the law abolished fees for processing and early repayment of loans secured by real estate, improved the protection of consumers in financial difficulties through the obligation of creditors to take reasonable measures to reach an agreement before initiating enforcement proceedings, and introduced a stricter assessment of creditworthiness to prevent excessive borrowing, as well as clearer requirements regarding the knowledge and expertise of employees involved in approving and brokering loans.
"In addition, the by-laws of the Central Bank of Montenegro Council specify the obligations of creditors, thus creating conditions for consistent and efficient application of the law and further strengthening the position of consumers in the financial market."
While a debtor of an MFI claims that his monthly interest rate with these, as he called them, legal moneylenders, is higher than 25 percent, the Central Bank of Montenegro states that on the last day of last year, the highest allowed effective interest rate was 14,46 percent.
"The Consumer Credit Law for the first time prescribes an upper limit for the effective interest rate on consumer loans, which was not regulated by previous regulations. In accordance with the aforementioned law, the highest permitted effective interest rate cannot exceed twice the average weighted effective interest rate on the balance of all consumer loans recorded in the Credit Register of the Central Bank for a given quarter. As of December 31, 2025, the weighted average effective interest rate (WAEIR) on total consumer loans with banks, microcredit financial institutions and leasing companies was 7,23%, which means that the highest permitted effective interest rate (EIR) in that period was 14,46%," it is written in the responses signed by the Head of the Service for the Protection of the Rights of Clients of Credit Institutions and Users of Financial Services of the Central Bank of Montenegro. Svetlana Đurović.
"Vijesti" also asked the Central Bank of Montenegro whether they had ever, within their jurisdiction, filed reports or initiatives with the competent authorities due to suspicions that the operations of certain credit entities contained elements of usury.
"The Central Bank of Montenegro is responsible, within its legal powers, for supervising the operations of credit entities to which it has issued a license and monitoring compliance with applicable regulations within its jurisdiction. In cases where irregularities or deviations from legal obligations are identified, the Central Bank of Montenegro imposes appropriate supervisory measures in accordance with applicable regulations. Actions based on suspicion of criminal offenses, including so-called usury, are the responsibility of other authorities, while the operations of licensed creditors remain under the constant supervision of the Central Bank," they said.
Explaining how they protect consumers in cases where formally legal contracts are accompanied by extremely high interest or penalties, and where the line is drawn between legal lending and usury, they referred to their initiative to prescribe an upper limit on the effective interest rate.
"One of the key steps taken by the Central Bank of Montenegro to protect consumers from extremely high interest rates and excessive lending costs is, as already mentioned, the initiative to prescribe an upper limit for the effective interest rate, or total loan costs, through the new Law on Consumer Credit. In cases where the supervision procedure determines that there has been conduct contrary to the regulations governing consumer lending and consumer protection, the Central Bank is authorized to impose appropriate supervisory measures, including a ban on lending, as well as to initiate misdemeanor proceedings against creditors and responsible persons. Within the scope of misdemeanor proceedings, fines in the amount of 500 to 40.000 euros may be imposed, as well as measures to seize property gains obtained by committing a misdemeanor," Đurović replied.
Nine misdemeanor proceedings in five years
They also point out that, in the last five years, they have imposed 29 supervisory measures on creditors and initiated nine proceedings before the competent court.
"It was precisely the findings of supervision in previous years, including segments related to the amount of interest, total costs and practices that could lead to excessive indebtedness of citizens, that were one of the key reasons for initiating the introduction of the highest permitted effective interest rate, i.e. limiting the total costs of consumer credit through the new Law on Consumer Credit. In the last five years, due to identified non-compliance with regulations in the field of consumer credit, the Central Bank of Montenegro has imposed a total of 29 supervisory measures on creditors, which were ordered to determine the method and deadlines for eliminating irregularities. In addition, in the same period, nine misdemeanor proceedings were initiated before the competent court against creditors and responsible persons," they said, answering the question of whether they had identified irregularities in the past five years, and how many measures or sanctions they had imposed due to violations of the rights of loan beneficiaries.
Research by "Vijesti" shows that debt bondage does not only happen to the "irresponsible". Anyone can fall into it - both the calm and the hardworking, both the hardworking and the responsible, both the strong and the weak. The loan sharks are just waiting for a moment of weakness.
This is confirmed by the survey results - some citizens took on debt out of necessity, when institutional assistance was unavailable or too slow, while a significant number went into debt to maintain a lifestyle beyond their realistic means or to cover gambling losses, decisions that today, in a conversation with a journalist, they recognize as serious personal mistakes.
Whoever lends money or other consumable items and thereby contracts a disproportionate material benefit shall be punished by imprisonment for up to three years and a fine, reads the description of the criminal offense of "usury" in the Criminal Code (CC) of Montenegro.
If the usurer "takes advantage of the poor financial situation, difficult circumstances, necessity, frivolity or insufficient ability to reason of the injured party", he will be punished with imprisonment from three months to three years and a fine.
The Criminal Code stipulates that a loan shark can be punished with imprisonment from six months to five years and a fine if serious consequences have occurred for the injured party or the perpetrator has obtained material gain in an amount exceeding three thousand euros.
Popović arrested for loan sharking
Thirty-four-year-old Boban Popović from Zeta was arrested yesterday and suspected of the criminal offense of usury to the detriment of several persons.
This was announced by the Police Directorate, stating that officers of the Podgorica Security Department - Criminal Police Station for Suppression of Economic Crime, undertaking continuous activities to detect, clarify and prove the criminal offense of usury, arrested Popović on the order of the State Prosecutor at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, on suspicion of committing the continued criminal offense of usury., to the detriment of several persons.
"Acting on the report of the injured party, police officers searched two facilities used by BP and, in further criminal investigation, found material and other evidence that the suspect committed the criminal offense of usury to the detriment of four other persons. BP is suspected of committing this criminal offense by taking advantage of the poor economic situation and necessity of the five injured parties and lending them money in the total amount of 20.350 euros during 2023 and 2024, thereby agreeing to a disproportionate material gain. The injured parties paid the suspect a total of 12.100 euros in interest, in addition to the principal, by which he obtained an unlawful material gain," the UP announced.
They add that Popović was deprived of his liberty by order of the state prosecutor at the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica.
Reactions:
Jasmin Kerović reacted to the article "Hotel as the headquarters of the underworld", which stated that a certain J. Kerović was engaged in loan sharking in Podgorica, for the Kavač clan.
"I am writing to you regarding the allegations published in your article entitled "Hotel as the headquarters of the underworld" dated 13. 2. 2026, in which J. Kerović is mentioned as Jabučanin's right-hand man in the moneylending business. I hereby wish to deny the information presented, because it is completely untrue, unverified and as such grossly damages not only my reputation and honor, but also that of my family. I am a family man, the father of minor children, and such serious accusations that are made public, without any verification or evidence, can have serious consequences for the security of both me and my family, and irrevocably tarnish my reputation. I declare that I have never had any connections with criminal organizations, much less that I am someone's right-hand man. I do not know Mr. Jabučanin nor have I ever come into contact with him. The people mentioned as my associates are my neighbors, childhood friends, with whom I grew up, and not associates and members of criminal organizations, so I do not understand "Where do these claims come from?" he wrote in his response.
Stefan Kilibarda, a native of Podgorica, born in 2001, pointed out that he is not S. Klibarda, who, in the context of usury, is mentioned in the text “Here's a million, put it into circulation: Usury in Montenegro (11)”.
“This article states that the security services in the Podgorica area are registering the names of around 100 'strong' loan sharks. It is also stated that several persons are listed as long-term, 'main carriers' of these activities in the territory of Podgorica, who are then designated in your text by their surnames or initials of their first and last names, among whom 'S. Kilibarda' is mentioned. This designation also corresponds to my personal name, although I have absolutely no contact with the criminal activities you are reporting on in this specific article. In addition, I am aware that the author of the text has information about the full personal name of the mentioned person "S. Kilibarda” and that it is known that it is obviously not me. However, since the information about the persons you mention as long-term 'main carriers' of usury activities in the territory of Podgorica has been published in such an indefinite manner, and my last name is not often mentioned, the environment in which I live and work has created the impression that I am one of the 100 'strong' usurers from the aforementioned article. This is causing me serious inconvenience and problems at work, which is threatening my honor and reputation, and potentially my employment. People close to me are also suffering from inconvenience and great concern, due to frequent questions about whether this text refers to me and the image of me that is starting to form in my environment because of this. Since the specific article does not refer to me, and I am aware that the author of the article is also aware of this, with whom I was unable to contact upon arrival at your editorial office, I would like to ask you to publish the identity of the person 'S. Kilibarda' who was written about (i.e. full name or some other information that will specify who it is about) or to publish that 'S. "The 'Kilibarda' mentioned in the article 'Here's a million, put it into circulation: Greenwashing in Montenegro (11)' from 7 February 2026 is not Stefan Kilibarda from Podgorica, born in 2001," he wrote in the email he sent.
In tomorrow's "Vijesti", read how the Podgorica Basic State Prosecutor's Office responds to the victim's allegations that in his case they protected the loan shark, not the injured party, as well as the confession of one of the interlocutors of "Vijesti" whose property was even burned by the loan sharks...
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