Montenegro in the Italian verdict on Subotic: Paradise for smuggling and criminals

"Montenegro, for a whole decade under the government of Milo Đukanović, was a paradise for smuggling, provided impunity for criminals and guaranteed the supply of contraband from coastal logistics bases such as Bar, Kotor and Zelenika," reads the judgment of judge Suzana de Feliča, which was part of yesterday published by the Italian press.

Although in a February 2013 verdict, the court in Bari acquitted Serbian businessman Stanko Subotic, stating that he "did not commit a crime", the court's assessment of the criminal environment in Montenegro received space in the Italian media, after the Ansa agency published part of the verdict.

Subotic was accused of criminal association for the purpose of money laundering and cigarette smuggling, as part of a process that dealt with alleged smuggling in Puglia, after which millions ended up in Switzerland, Cyprus and other tax havens.

This process is the result of the investigation of the prosecutor Đuzepe Šelzi against the former President and current Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Đukanović and the former Minister of Finance Miroslav Ivanišević.

Ivanišević was acquitted in May 2010. Đukanović's case was archived in May 2009 - Ansa claims diplomatic immunity, and Đukanović's defense claims lack of evidence.

"Djukanović's connection with dangerous Italian criminals and smugglers and the protection guaranteed to them by the Montenegrin police in the XNUMXs," the verdict reads, "was clearly shown by an investigation that included wiretapping and statements by various actors from the higher levels of various parts of the cartel."