In a major international operation against the Balkan Cartel, seven people were arrested in Montenegro, one suspect is already in prison in Skopje for another crime, while the police are searching for two more suspects - Gojko Boričić (50) and Vukana Vujacic (36).
The operation was carried out yesterday in Montenegro and Germany, with the support of Europol.
According to data from the Police Directorate, 14 suspects have been processed, 10 of whom in Montenegro, while four people were arrested in Germany.
Arrested on the territory of Montenegro Svetislav Filipović (47) from Podgorica, who was designated by Europol in an official statement as a high-risk target, the organizer of a cell of the Balkan Cartel.
He is charged with committing the aggravated criminal offense of unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, as well as the criminal offense of illicit trafficking in weapons and explosives.
Montenegrin police deprived of their liberty and Boban Golubović (35) Enes Borančić (22) and Petar Krsmanović (25) - from Podgorica, on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs.
The police suspect fifty-year-old Gojko Boričić from Podgorica, born in Berane, of forming part of this criminal network, but according to the police, he has not been on the territory of Montenegro for a long time.
On suspicion of having committed the criminal offenses of criminal association and unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs, they were arrested and Emin Adžijusufović (35) Bozo Vujsic (30) and Pavle Pejic (33).
Director of the Montenegrin Police Lazar Scepanovic He said yesterday that the criminal network consisted of heterogeneous structures, among which members of a high-risk criminal group were identified, who created a collaborative network.
Part of this criminal network are marked Nemanja Stojanovic (34) from Niš, who is already in the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, and Vukan Vujačić (36) from Cetinje, for whom an international arrest warrant has been issued. According to the police, they are also suspected of unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotics.
Stojanović was arrested in Podgorica in August on suspicion of planning a murder. An international arrest warrant had been issued for Vujačić even earlier. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison late last year for complicity in the murder. Radomir Đuričković to Cetinje.
Responding to questions from "Vijesti", Šćepanović said that Boričić has not been on the territory of Montenegro for more than half a year.
Asked how long the criminal organization, which they claim was dismantled yesterday, has been operating, he said that the investigation began when their activities were identified - since October 2024.
EUROPOL: High-value target arrested
Europol officially announced the action yesterday, stating that they had provided support to law enforcement authorities in Montenegro in carrying out a "major operation targeting a significant cell of the Balkan Cartel."
They also explained that they provided support to law enforcement authorities in Germany in connection with the investigation targeting potential contact persons.
Pointing out that 12 suspects were arrested, four of whom were in Germany, they emphasized that a "high-value target" - Filipović - was deprived of his liberty in Montenegro.
"The investigation, which was supported by the authorities of Austria and Spain, focused on a criminal network involved in the international trafficking of large quantities of drugs (cocaine and cannabis). The suspects, who reside in Montenegro and Germany, are believed to have played various roles within the criminal organization, from financiers to coordinators and logisticians," Europol said.
They explained that in Montenegro, judicial authorities have filed indictments against several suspects for their involvement in the smuggling of 2,7 tons of cocaine and 1,5 tons of cannabis between October 2024 and April 2026.
“The drugs were seized in 12 different previous operations in several EU countries and South America. The network is believed to have used maritime and air smuggling routes, using shipping containers and other covert methods to transport the illicit substances. The criminal network is also suspected of smuggling cannabis into the EU from and through countries such as Albania, Thailand and the United States. Around 100 police officers were deployed in both countries to carry out the arrests and conduct searches. Europol facilitated constant coordination, information exchange and provided continuous analytical support throughout the investigation. The intelligence gathered revealed a well-disguised network operating across continents and countries. Europol also provided financial support, which was used for specialist equipment and other operational needs,” Europol said.
“Spectacular”
At a press conference, the Director of the Police Directorate, Lazar Šćepanović, said that this was a multi-month international operation codenamed "Spectacular", launched in early October 2024 in coordination with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica.
According to him, the investigation was aimed at exposing a transnational criminal network that operated in several countries and on several continents, and was involved in the smuggling of cocaine, cannabis and hashish, as well as arms trafficking.
He added that in the investigative phases of the operation, as the leader in this activity, they also included partner services from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Spain, with strong support from EUROPOL's specialized unit for combating drugs.
"Which enabled constant coordination of operational activities, exchange of information and analytical support during data processing and financial support for the implementation of the operation. Investigative measures and actions of the criminal investigation authorities of Montenegro, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Germany were predominantly focused on the transnational dimension of uncovering a covert criminal network that operated in several countries on several continents and carried out drug trafficking - cocaine and cannabis in large quantities, arms trafficking and committed other criminal acts," said Šćepanović.
He explained that the criminal activities involved the smuggling of cocaine from South America to European Union countries, while the smuggling of cannabis and hashish was carried out predominantly via the route from Asia to European Union countries and to a lesser extent through smuggling routes in Europe, using maritime container traffic, as well as air traffic and land smuggling routes, including hidden sophisticated methods of transport.
"Based on the conducted police and prosecutorial activities, it has been unequivocally established that this criminal network procured, sold and brokered the sale of narcotic drugs, cocaine and marijuana, and organized a network of dealers and brokers both nationally - the territory of Montenegro, and internationally, on the territory of Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Over 100 police officers participated in this activity on the territory of Montenegro, which was coordinated by officers of the Crime Prevention Sector - Drug Control Department, including members of the Special Police Unit and officers of drug control units from regional centers and security departments," added Šćepanović.
He pointed out that searches were carried out at 11 locations in Montenegro yesterday and 14 suspects were processed:
"Of which 10 are in Montenegro and four persons are deprived of their liberty in Germany, and among these persons is one person from Montenegro, who is treated as a high-ranking target of law enforcement authorities at the international level," said Šćepanović.
He explained that the total balance, or rather the result of that operation, was the seizure of around 4,5 tons of narcotics, in 12 individual large seizures:
"Of which 2,7 tons of cocaine in Bolivia, (and in this operation at the end of 2024, 10 people were deprived of their liberty) and 1,8 tons of various types of drugs in Europe - Belgium, Germany and Montenegro, of which about 1,55 tons of cannabis, 120 kg of hashish and about 120 kg of cocaine."
He explained that in implementing and realizing these activities, Montenegro has shown itself to be a leader in regional initiatives, and the participation of respectable international partners demonstrates the rating of our law enforcement agencies in the international framework and the very clear support and trust of the international intelligence community and the umbrella agency of the European Union - EUROPOL.
Šćepanović thanked his colleagues from partner services, all officers of the Police Directorate who participated in the activity, as well as the state prosecutor who led this complex investigation:
"With a clear message that we continue with undiminished capacity in the fight against high-risk organized crime groups in suppressing drug trafficking as a dominant transnational criminal activity, as well as in detecting crimes defined as national priority areas."
In addition to Šćepanović, the press conference was attended by the acting assistant director of the Crime Prevention Sector Velimir Furtula, Head of the Drug Department Aleksandra Mihailovic and the inspector for international investigations in that department Serđo Elezović.
Transported drugs multiple times
The Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica announced that months of activities, which included the application of special investigative methods, resulted in the filing of criminal charges against 10 people for the crimes of criminal association, unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs, and illicit trafficking in weapons and explosives.
"The criminal complaint charges the suspects with repeatedly selling, transporting and mediating in the sale of narcotics, cocaine and cannabis, while the group of four suspects is also charged with the criminal offense of criminal association," the prosecutor's office, headed by prosecutor Lepa Medenica, announced.
According to the VDT, one of the suspects organized sea and air transport of shipments with large quantities of cocaine, hemp and hashish in Podgorica, Germany, Bolivia, Thailand, Belgium and the Dominican Republic.
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