ANB: We haven't entered Đukanović's house for two decades - secret police deny that their bullets were found in Rastocice

Secret agents haven't entered the house for over two decades. Aca Đukanović in the Nikšić settlement of Rastoci, so the ammunition package found there last weekend is not owned by that service, the National Security Agency (ANB) told "Vijesti".

The Police Directorate (UP), at the same time, responded to the list that the ammunition was not theirs either, explaining that it was bullets of different calibers, intended for hunting and other weapons that are not used for police purposes.

Thus, from the two security services they manage Ivica Janović i Lazar Scepanovic answered a set of questions from "Vijesti" following the arrest of Aco Đukanović and his defense attorney's claim that the ammunition found was a remnant of the state services that provided security for the former Prime Minister and President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

By searching several properties of the now-arrested businessman and brother of the former, multiple Prime Minister and President of Montenegro, the police found and confiscated several rifles, over 400 rounds of ammunition of various brands and calibers, three empty frames, five protective ballistic body armor...

After the arrest of Aco Đukanović, one of his defense lawyers, lawyer Nikola Martinovic, said that "this is completely unsorted ammunition and it is probably a backlog from the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro and the National Security Agency, the former State Security, which provided security in that area for a protected person, the former Prime Minister and President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović." He said the same about the bulletproof vests found in the house.

The ANB responded that their officers were not engaged in securing the facility after 2005, and that they conducted their activities solely in the context of collecting operational data used to prepare a security assessment of the vulnerability of the protected person, Milo Đukanović.

"With the separation of the National Security Agency (ANB) from the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) at the end of 2005, officers who performed security protection tasks for protected persons continued their work engagement in the Police Directorate and retained the service weapons they had previously been assigned. After 2005, ANB officers were not engaged in securing the facility in the Nikšić settlement of Rastoci, where ammunition and equipment were recently found. Physical security of the facilities is the responsibility of uniformed personnel. ANB activities, after 2005, were conducted exclusively in the context of collecting operational data that was used to create a security assessment of the threat posed to the protected person, Milo Đukanović," the secret service explained.

They also emphasize that they do not have official data on the type, quantity and other specifications of the ammunition found in Rastoc, but that they only had access to publicly available sources regarding the case.

"The ANB possesses a certain amount of ammunition for official weapons, of which it keeps precise records (on quantity and type - caliber). Given that there are no serial numbers on the ammunition, but only data on the year of production and possibly on the manufacturer, it is impossible to determine a match, because the type of ammunition possessed by the ANB is in widespread use. As we have stated, the officers who provide security for protected persons are not members of the ANB. All assignments and discharges of duties carried out before 2005 were carried out in the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Montenegro because the State Security Service (SDB) was an integral part of this ministry, which implies that the documentation on the above is located in the competent organizational unit of that ministry," the ANB explained.

The Police Directorate reiterated that Aco Đukanović had illegally kept weapons and ammunition in the attic of the house, wrapped in cellophane.

"The seized items - firearms and ammunition found during the search of A. Đ., as presented in the criminal report filed by the Police Directorate, as well as in the order to conduct an investigation by the competent state prosecutor, are the subject of the criminal offense of unauthorized possession and carrying of weapons and explosives, which the defendant is charged with... In relation to your specific questions, we would like to clarify that the weapons and ammunition were illegally kept in the attic of a residential building, wrapped in cellophane, and the manner of keeping them and the characteristics of the act constitute elements of the aforementioned criminal offense. The Police Directorate will not comment on the defense's allegations, but rather emphasize that these are ammunition of various calibers, intended for hunting and other weapons that are not used for police purposes," explained the UP.

Businessman Aco Đukanović has been remanded in custody due to fear of flight after being suspected of the criminal offense of illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosives.

"It has been established that there is a reasonable suspicion that the suspect A. Đ. committed the criminal offense of illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosives under Article 403, paragraph 2, in conjunction with paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro, which results from the suspect's defense, as well as from the minutes, official notes and photo documentation of the Police Administration of Montenegro. The investigating judge is of the specific opinion that there are circumstances indicating that the suspect, if released, could flee and be inaccessible to the state authorities of Montenegro in the further course of the proceedings, pursuant to Article 175, paragraph 1, item 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code," the statement of the judge spokesperson for the Basic Court in Nikšić reads, Miloš Ivanović.

Arrest

The brother of the long-serving prime minister and president of the state was arrested on the night of February 27th and 28th, after a search of the family home in the Nikšić neighborhood of Rastoci.

The Police Directorate announced that officers from the Crime Prevention Sector, with the support of the Special Police Unit and inspectors from the Regional Security Centers "Center" and "West", searched several Đukanović's buildings and premises in Podgorica and Nikšić on February 27 and the night of February 28, based on orders from the competent prosecutor's offices and courts.

The police stated that during the search of the apartment in Podgorica, certain documentation was seized, which the prosecutor's office was notified of, and that "a case will be opened regarding the above for the purpose of further proceedings."

During the search in Nikšić, the police, according to the statement, found a large quantity of firearms and ammunition - a "Mauser" hunting carbine with an optical sight, a "Brno" rifle with a "Busnell" optic, a shotgun and a pistol of unknown brand, an "M-48" hunting carbine, as well as a "CZ 99 para" pistol with a frame containing five bullets and a firearms license in the name of a deceased family member. They also stated that over 400 pieces of ammunition of various brands and calibers, three empty frames, five ballistic body armor and "Zeiss" binoculars were found.

Defense attorney Martinović, however, claimed that some of the weapons found in the house belonged to Milo Đukanović, stating that "some rifles with inscriptions" to his brother were found, as well as weapons that belonged to their late father, for which, he said, there is documentation.

He announced that Đukanović agreed to have everything examined by an expert, that DNA was taken, and that the defense expects the findings to show that the suspect has no connection to the disputed rifles.

However, former head of state Milo Đukanović never reported to the competent Agency for the Prevention of Corruption that he had a single weapon registered in his name or received as a gift.

ASK announced this to "Vijesti", announcing that they will initiate new proceedings against the former public official - to determine whether he broke the law.