Criminal charges against farmers from Bijelo Polje for spreading bird flu

Police officers from the Regional Security Center "North", in cooperation and coordination with the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje, filed criminal charges against two companies and two individuals for transmitting an infectious disease to animals.

"Criminal charges have been filed against the company "BC" from Bijelo Polje and the responsible person RB, as well as against the company "FB" from that city and the responsible person SB, on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of transmitting infectious diseases to animals and plants," the Police Directorate announced.

"It is suspected that these acts were committed in such a way that the named individuals, during February 2026, knowingly and contrary to regulations, concealed the existence of an infectious disease in animals, without reporting signs of the disease on the farms they owned to the Public Veterinary Service, by engaging Komunalno 'Lim' Ltd., transported dead laying hens (13.000 from the SB farm and around 5.000 from the RB farm) to the city landfill, which led to the spread of the H5N1 infectious disease to other smaller farms and households, causing material damage whose total amount exceeds 25.000 euros," the statement reads.

The police said they are continuing their intensive activities to suppress criminal offenses and protect public health, with a "clear message" that all those responsible for such actions will be sanctioned in accordance with the law.

Video: Jadranka Ćetković

The Bijelo Polje ODT also issued an official statement.

"After the veterinary inspector filed a report, the acting prosecutor ordered the collection of certain information and evidence to the Bijelo Polje Regional Police Directorate. A case was formed in connection with the case, after which an order was issued for an expert examination by the Specialist Veterinary Laboratory for the analysis of certain samples, which was followed and on March 16, 2026, a report on the examination by the laboratory was submitted. Upon the order of the acting prosecutor, the Bijelo Polje Regional Police Directorate filed two criminal reports against two legal entities and two responsible persons in those legal entities on March 17, 2026, for the criminal offense of transmitting an infectious disease to animals and plants. After the investigation procedure has been conducted, the acting prosecutor will make a decision, of which the public will be informed in a timely manner," the statement reads.