The OSCE Mission to Montenegro donated four specialized K9 vehicles, worth a total of approximately 120 thousand euros, to the Border Police Sector and the Special Police Unit (PJP).
The Police Directorate announced that the ceremonial handover of the Opel Combo vehicle was organized at the PJP and Special Police Unit Training Center.
The donation, they said, was made with the aim of strengthening national capacities to more effectively combat the illicit trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons, conventional ammunition and explosives, as well as all forms of cross-border crime.
"The vehicles are primarily designed with the welfare and safety of service dogs in mind and will enable their safe, comfortable and efficient transport in accordance with European Union standards," the statement said.
The police stated that each vehicle is equipped with two transport boxes, which can be converted into four boxes for dogs of different sizes if necessary, as well as additional space for storing food, equipment and other necessary supplies.
"In addition, the vehicles have an integrated ventilation system and air conditioning specially adapted to maintain optimal conditions for service dogs during transport and performance of operational tasks, including longer engagements at border crossings," the statement said.
It is stated that the front of the vehicle is equipped with specially made benches that serve as a resting area for service dog handlers, while the interior provides additional space for storing their equipment.
After the official handover of the vehicles, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Jan Haukaas, emphasized that the donation comes at a particularly important time, given the intense summer tourist season and high temperatures.
"In a year in which Montenegro celebrates the 20th anniversary of its independence, and the Mission 20 years of partnership with Montenegro, I am proud that today's handover strengthens our already strong and long-term cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the Police Directorate," said Haukaas.
He added that he is confident that these vehicles will further improve the operational capacities of K9 units by enabling safer and more efficient transportation of service dogs, both during the summer period and in their daily work in the years to come.
Acting Assistant Director of the Police Directorate for the Border Police Sector, Dejan Bojić, thanked the OSCE Mission to Montenegro for recognizing the importance of continuously strengthening the capacities of the K9 unit of the Border Police Sector.
"We would like to express our special gratitude for the donation of specialized vehicles for transporting service dogs, which will significantly improve the operational capacities of our K9 unit," said Bojić.
These vehicles, he said, will contribute to a more efficient engagement of service dogs in detecting and suppressing all forms of cross-border crime, including illegal trade and irregular migration, and further improve the results they achieve in protecting the state border.
Assistant Commander of the PJP, Chief Police Inspector Zoran Šaranović, emphasized that the donation represents a significant contribution to further improving the capacities of the K9 unit.
"PJP received two modern, air-conditioned vehicles for the safe transport of officers and service dogs, equipped in accordance with the highest standards of their welfare," said Šaranović.
As he stated, the donation represents a continuation of successful cooperation with the OSCE Mission, which previously supported PJP through international training of service dog handlers.
Šaranović said that a group of service dog handlers performs high-risk tasks every day in the fight against organized crime, including the detection of narcotics, weapons and explosives.
"The new vehicles will significantly improve operational capacities in the field, with the aim of preserving a safe environment and further strengthening the trust of citizens," emphasized Šaranović.
As announced, the donation of the K9 vehicle was implemented within the framework of the OSCE Mission's extra-budgetary project "Strengthening the Capacities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro to More Efficiently Reduce, Prevent and Combat Illicit Trade and Abuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives".
The police stated that the project is being implemented from April last year to December 2028 and that its goal is to improve the capacity of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to detect illegal weapons, ammunition and explosives by strengthening K9 capacities.
"As well as improving the firearms deactivation system in Montenegro through support for the development and implementation of a comprehensive legal framework and strengthening the capacities necessary for its effective implementation," the statement said.
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