The state earned more than 30 million euros: Ministry data on the sale of surplus weapons and equipment of the former JNA

From the restoration of independence in 2006 until June this year, Montenegro sold 7.129 tons of ammunition and 66.748 pieces of weapons and other combat equipment from stocks inherited from the facilities of the former Army of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG), or the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), according to data from the Ministry of Defense.

From the perspective of the Montenegrin military leadership at the time, these munitions, weapons and military equipment represented surplus for the needs of the Army of Montenegro (AVCG).

The first Minister of Defense of independent Montenegro was the then Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic (DPS). He was soon succeeded in that position by Boro Vučinić (DPS), and a prominent role in "supplying" military surpluses alongside Vučinić was played by the now retired admiral Dragan Samardzic - first from the position of Assistant Minister of Defense for Material Resources, and then as a person who covered the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Montenegro for nine years.

The report on the disposal of surplus weapons and combat equipment that the Ministry of Defense recently submitted to the Government states that in the past 20 years, of the total quantities sold by commission agents and buyers, 7.129 tons of ammunition and 66.741 pieces of weapons and other combat equipment have been taken over, while seven pieces of weapons and other combat equipment have not yet been taken over and are kept as surplus in the Armed Forces of Montenegro.

In the period from June 2006 to June 2026, 2.987 pieces of military motor and trailer vehicles, engineering and work machines, 34 vessels, 11 items of equipment and spare parts for vessels and workshop equipment, and 106 items of spare parts for aircraft and equipment and tools for their maintenance were sold.

Of this, the state earned 26.649.331 US dollars (about 23 million euros) and 3.072.485 euros from the sale of weapons and ammunition.

The sale of surplus military motor vehicles and trailers, engineering and work machines generated 4.177.589 euros, while the sale of vessels and spare parts for vessels generated 2.085.309 euros and 529.900 dollars. Aircraft spare parts, equipment and tools for their maintenance were sold for 59.409 euros.

In addition to those sold, over the past 20 years, Montenegro has donated 434,79 tons of surplus ammunition and weapons to partner countries that it found in barracks, warehouses and other facilities of the Army of Serbia and Montenegro, after the restoration of state independence.

In addition, 4.085,69 tons of surplus weapons and ammunition have been destroyed in the meantime. According to the latest data from the department, which is headed by the Minister Dragan Krapović (Democrats), as of June 30th of this year, there are still 400,98 tons of surplus ordnance in the warehouses of the Armed Forces of Montenegro.

Of this, 113,12 tons of ordnance (depending on its quality) will be sold, destroyed or used for training, and 287,87 tons will be preventively destroyed by the Ministry of Defense.