Maddox: Focus on financial investigations, the only way to eradicate the problem of cigarette smuggling

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Filip Adžić, met today with the British Ambassador to Montenegro, Karen Maddox.

The meeting, as announced by the MUP, was an opportunity for the interlocutors to apostrophize the extraordinary cooperation between the two countries, especially when it comes to police cooperation.

The meeting was attended by the acting general director of the Directorate for European Affairs, International Cooperation and Support Programs, Sergej Muchalica, as well as the acting assistant director for the Sector for the fight against crime, Dejan Knežević.

Adžić, as reported, informed Maddox about the activities of the Police regarding the seizure of cigarettes, while Acting Assistant Director Knežević "stressed that the smuggling of cigarettes has been stopped for a year."

"On that line, Ambassador Maddox said that the focus should be on financial investigations, because this is the only way to completely eradicate the problem of cigarette smuggling, as well as other forms of crime. Ambassador Maddox said that the British Embassy is ready to continue providing assistance and support to Montenegro, and that they can count on help in strengthening capacities during financial investigations," the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement.

Adžić, in this regard, expressed his willingness to intensify cooperation with the National Criminal Agency of the United Kingdom, "especially in the part of strengthening the operational capacities of the Police Directorate in the field of investigating illegal financial flows."

"At the meeting, it was concluded that there is mutual openness to continue expanding cooperation, especially through joint projects," the announcement concludes.