Montenegro has shown strong political will to tackle smuggling and trafficking, said Deputy Prime Minister Momo Koprivica.
Together with British Ambassador Donna McCann, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of the European Union (EU) Ingve Engstrom, and Acting Director of the Customs Administration Maja Vučinić, he toured the Free Zone warehouse in the Port of Bar, where confiscated tobacco is destroyed.
The tour was also attended by the executive director of the Podgorica Landfill, which is the contractor, Aleksandar Božović.
Koprivica, as announced by his office, pointed out that in the first 13 working days, the procedure is being implemented according to the planned dynamics and in accordance with the Government's decision.
According to him, this is a historic step for Montenegro, as it demonstrates a strong political will for the country to tackle smuggling and smuggling.
This, he said, is not a technical process, but a manifestation of strong will and a message that Montenegro is no longer a mecca for smuggling and a haven for smugglers.
Koprivica stated that this process returns institutions to citizens and to the function of the law, not private interests.
"For years it has been said that the state cannot deal with the tobacco mafia. We are showing that it can and this is a turning point in the fight against the tobacco mafia and in the fight for the rule of law," said Koprivica.
According to him, the destruction carried out by Montenegro is an orderly and credible process, based on international partnership.
Koprivica thanked the British Embassy in Podgorica and the EU Embassy for their continued support, and His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for their legal and operational assistance and for establishing a methodology that guarantees transparency and credibility.
He added that all of this also indicates Montenegro's full readiness for international partnership in the fight against transnational crime and corruption.
"With this action, we are implementing the European agenda and European standards and demonstrating our readiness to close key chapters in negotiations with the EU," said Koprivica.
He stated that the destruction of smuggled tobacco protects the regular economy, which brings excise revenue to the budget.
"The state does not lose through this process, but gains," added Koprivica.
He said that in Montenegro, no one is above the law anymore, and that neither the gray nor the black market anymore enjoy privileges or immunity.
"By destroying smuggled tobacco on site, using modern industrial crushers and under video surveillance, we have transformed smuggled tobacco from a source of power for organized crime groups into evidence of their weakness," said Koprivica.
He thanked customs and police officers, as well as the landfill workers, for their dedicated work in the interest of the state.
McCann, as stated in the statement, emphasized that she is very pleased to witness the process, which represents a very important step for Montenegro in the fight against organized crime.
"The Government of Montenegro has shown determination in its efforts to implement the destruction of seized tobacco in a manner that ensures transparency and credibility, and I am pleased that the United Kingdom has assisted in these efforts," said McCann.
She said a team of HMRC officers were carrying out daily monitoring and had contributed to defining an operational plan which served as the basis for the destruction process.
"I am also extremely pleased that we collaborated on this project with the EU Delegation and the EUROL 4 program, which recognized the strategic importance of this activity," added McCann.
Engstrom said that "this is a good day for Montenegro."
"The fight against organised crime requires a practical approach and credible results. The EU will continue to strongly support Montenegro in the area of the rule of law," Engstrom added.
Vučinić said that the destruction, which began on June 23, is proceeding according to the planned schedule, in accordance with applicable regulations and the established methodology.
She said that 325 tons or 21 packages were destroyed on Tuesday.
Vučinić said that the tobacco destruction process sends a message that the state will not tolerate violations of the law.
"And this restores trust in institutions and the rule of law, and protects the financial interests of Montenegro," Vučinić added.
According to her, the Customs Administration has undertaken all activities within its jurisdiction with the aim of unhindered commencement and implementation of tobacco destruction.
Vučinić said that the Customs Administration concluded a contract with the selected company to implement the waste destruction and disposal procedure within 90 days.
The destruction, as Vučinić added, is being carried out by a company that has the necessary infrastructure, technical equipment and all permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, and is under the supervision of a team formed by the Coordination Body.
Božović said that he was grateful for the trust the Government had shown them – to, as he said, award the historic job to the Podgorica Landfill.
The destruction process, according to Božović, is very simple and efficient.
He said that each piece in its factory packaging, that is, in packages and cellophane, is ground up in the warehouse area.
"Thus, turned into powder to the point of unrecognizable and unusable, mixed with cardboard and other materials, it is transported under special conditions and with police escort to a sanitary landfill," Božović explained.
He added that daily quantities of about 35 tons of destroyed tobacco are mixed with other municipal waste that arrives that day, approximately 350 tons per day, and everything is covered together with materials intended for that purpose.
"Ultimately, we are reaching a situation where it is impossible to use even the smallest amount of destroyed and confiscated tobacco," said Božović.
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