The Police Directorate did not have any information about the passengers on the Belgrade-Tivat charter flight in advance, but after their arrival, it conducted immediate profiling and determined that they could pose a threat to national and internal security.
This is how the institution responded to "Vijesti" when asked whether they learned about the profile of the passengers who were returned from Tivat airport on their own or with the help of partner services, which was reported in some media outlets.
The National Security Agency unofficially responded to the newspaper in an almost identical manner, confirming that everything that happened that day to uncover the entry of a group of Serbian citizens was the result of the work of Montenegrin security services.
An Air Serbia plane with 87 passengers landed in Montenegro on the morning of June 3rd - on the eve of the largest international gathering in the country's history, but everyone was returned to Belgrade on the same day.
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Montenegrin security services announced at the time that a group of Serbian citizens had been expelled because they were a threat to national security, stating that they had attended numerous public gatherings of high security risk, and that some of them had been registered for committing criminal offenses and misdemeanors with elements of violence.
"The Police Directorate was not provided with information by partner services or in any other way, but in this specific case it was exclusively a direct, immediate profiling of the passengers of the charter flight, carried out by officers of the Border Police Sector, through increased controls, analysis of security indicators and risk assessment in relation to the passengers of the aforementioned flight, within the framework of their legally established powers. The management of the Border Police Sector, the Operational Headquarters, as well as the Director of the Police Directorate were informed of the event without delay, after which other measures and actions within the jurisdiction of the police were taken. Through operational intelligence work, in cooperation with the National Security Agency, security and operational checks of passengers and travel documents were carried out through available databases, national and international records, as well as through risk assessment and passenger profiling systems," the Police Directorate responded.
They also emphasize that after conducting a security risk assessment, in cooperation with the ANB, they took urgent and coordinated measures and actions within the jurisdiction of the border police:
"Which included the identification and control of persons, verification of the purpose of arrival, checks through available records and databases, as well as the adoption of administrative measures in accordance with the Law on Foreigners, which prohibited these persons from entering Montenegro."
They also claim that in this specific case, the entire identification, risk assessment, control and treatment of passengers on that charter flight was undertaken by UP and ANB officers: "through their own capacities, risk assessment procedures and measures that are regularly implemented to protect national and internal security."
The security institution emphasized that they conducted the necessary checks and assessments in accordance with legal authorizations and professional standards in this specific incident.
"Especially within the framework of preparatory activities for the Summit, taking measures that include assessing the security risk during the stay and movement of protected persons in Montenegro, in accordance with the highest international standards. A wide security perimeter has been introduced, with the application of restrictive measures and restrictions on movement, about which the public has been informed several times through the media."
They also explained that these are activities aimed at raising the level of general security, controlling the entry and stay of foreign citizens, especially in the circumstances of an international gathering of the highest security importance, which was attended by the highest representatives of the European Union, leaders of European Union member states, as well as leaders of the Western Balkan countries.
"After creating an intelligence picture, collecting, analyzing and verifying available data, it was determined that the presence of these individuals on the territory of Montenegro could pose a security risk, and through timely and decisive action, our services successfully neutralized every form and intention aimed at disrupting the stability and security of the event, which confirmed the system's ability to act preventively and respond to every challenge. By recognizing the risk in a timely manner, the Police Administration engaged all available operational, intelligence and logistical capacities in a very short period of time, placed the individuals in question under full control and took measures prescribed by law, thus preserving a stable security environment during the EU-Western Balkans Summit," the Police Directorate concluded.
The National Security Agency did not respond to "Vijesti's" questions about whether they themselves obtained information about the passengers on the Belgrade-Tivat charter flight, or whether this information was provided to them by domestic institutions or foreign partner services.
Sources from the security sector, however, emphasize that everything that happened that day to uncover the entry of a group of Serbian citizens was the result of the work of Montenegrin security services.
One of the interlocutors pointed out that the information about the alleged participation of foreign partner services, that is, about the alleged warning about the arrival of a plane with a group of 87 Serbian citizens, was released immediately after the entire case was made public.
"Everything that happened that day to uncover the entry of a group of Serbian citizens is the result of the work of the Montenegrin security services. Coordination between our services, mutual trust and unity in intelligence/operational work led to a successfully implemented action that resulted in the safe conduct of the EU-Western Balkans Summit," said one of the interlocutors.
Explaining the role of the international factor, another source said that long-standing cooperation was key in building the capacity of Montenegrin institutions.
"The role of the international factor has been crucial in the long-term work on building the capacities of Montenegrin institutions to confront various challenges, including such attempts at destabilization. The decisive reaction of Montenegrin services and leadership is an indicator of the growing institutional maturity and operational capacities of Montenegro as a NATO member," said the source.
"This case illustrates how NATO membership provides smaller states with access to security procedures, coordination mechanisms and information that improve their ability to respond to potential hybrid or destabilizing activities, especially in the context of processes related to the European Union. More broadly, the event highlighted the practical advantages that Montenegro has as a NATO member, including access to coordination mechanisms and security information that enable timely preventive action," the newspaper's source said.
Expensive accommodation for the charter crew
"Vijesti" previously reported that retired gendarme Saša Lazić had reserved accommodation in Luštica for 45 members of a group that was returned to Belgrade from Tivat airport for threatening national security.
According to the same unofficial information, he arrived on the peninsula at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor with fellow citizens from Obrenovac, Ivan Đukić and Goran Mihajlović.
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The editorial source claims that they arrived in Montenegro the day before (on Tuesday, June 2), and that they were taken to the Bijelo Polje police station on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, after they tried to leave the country.
"Vijesti" sources claim that on Wednesday, June 3, a contract was concluded between the company "LB Hotels Management" from Tivat - "Luštica Bay Vacation Homes" with the client - the travel agency "Happy Travel" from Bjeljina.
The agreement provides for the accommodation of 45 men in the luxury complex “Luštica Bej” (Bay) from June 3rd to 5th.
"The total price for the accommodation was around 36.000 euros, with 10.500 paid in advance," one of the sources said.
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