Kaluđerović: Stojanović and Veljović were at the head of the Police Administration for 15 years, during which time crime and smuggling culminated

Former directors of the Police Administration Slavko Stojanović and Veselin Veljović were together at the head of the Police Administration for 15 years, and it was during that time that crime and smuggling culminated, Slađana Kaluđerović, MP of the Socialist People's Party (SNP), announced today.

Stojanović was arrested today by order of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, on suspicion of abuse of official position in connection with cigarette smuggling.

Veljović was arrested on July 24 in Žabljak - by order of the Special State Prosecutor's Office (STP), he was handcuffed by members of the Special Police Department (SPO). That prosecution accuses him of using confidential information to help the head of a criminal organization, Aleksandar Mrkić, to smuggle cigarettes.

"Only zero tolerance for organized crime and corruption will enable the closing of negotiation chapters 23 and 24, which are crucial for Montenegro's further progress in European integration," Kaluđerović pointed out in a statement submitted by the SNP.

She added that advocacy for the full rule of law has been one of the cornerstones of the SNP's policy since its founding.

"Not even by a millimeter have we deviated from the principle that no one, regardless of their position or power, is and cannot be above the law, as well as that the police must be cleansed of criminals in uniform. That is why I welcome the action of the Special State Prosecutor's Office and the Special Police Department, which is in the service of cleaning Montenegro from crime and corruption. Slavko Stojanović and Veselin Veljović were together at the head of the Police Administration for 15 years, and it was during that time that crime and smuggling culminated, as the SNP constantly pointed out. Today, we again witness that time masterfully resolved, i.e. that the SNP's commitment to the rule of law has withstood the test of time," said Kaluđerović.

She said that justice may be slow, but sometimes it knocks on the door of all those who have fallen foul of the law, especially those whose duty it was to protect the law, instead of being criminals in police uniforms.