VZCZCXRO2067
RR RUEHPOD
DE RUEWCSF #1796 1841034
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
BT
UNCLAS SVC

SIPDIS
QQQQ
ZUI RUEHPOD0229 1841036
MESSAGE REJECTED - CONTAINS UNRECOGNIZED ORIGINATOR
-- ERRORED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --
RAAUZYUW RUEHPOD0229 1841036-UUUU--RHMCSUU.
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031036Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
B T

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PODGORICA 000229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KCRM MW
SUBJECT: ORGANIZED CRIME IN MONTENEGRO 
 
PODGORICA 00000229  001.3 OF 004 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  A SMALL NUMBER OF ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS IN 
MONTENEGRO USE LINKS WITH GROUPS IN NEIGHBORING STATES AND 
ELSEWHERE TO EXPLOIT MONTENEGRO FOR THE TRANSIT OF SMUGGLED 
DRUGS, PEOPLE AND ARMS. THE GOM, LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO 
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, IS CONFRONTING THE CRIMINAL GROUPS MORE 
AGGRESSIVELY, AND HAS MOVED AGAINST CIGARETTE SMUGGLING, WHICH 
BLIGHTED MONTENEGROS REPUTATION DURING THE 1990S ERA OF WAR AND 
SANCTIONS. PUBLICITY IN MAY SURROUNDING POLICE AND SECURITY 
AGENCY "DOSSIERS" ON CRIMINALS DREW ATTENTION BACK TO THE 
PROBLEM.  PM ZELJKO STURANOVIC HAS STATED THAT FIGHTING 
CORRUPTION, ORGANIZED CRIME, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IS A 
PRIORITY FOR HIS GOVERNMENT. ALTHOUGH SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN 
MADE, MONTENEGRO'S CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT, MONITOR, 
PROSECUTE AND TRY CRIMINAL CASES REMAINS LIMITED. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
REGISTER OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN MONTENEGRO 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) ON MAY 8, LOCAL MEDIA EXTENSIVELY REPORTED ON RUMORS 
ALLEGING THE EXISTENCE OF A REGISTER OF CRIMINAL ACTORS OR 
GROUPS IN MONTENEGRO.  THE REGISTER IS REPORTEDLY MAINTAINED BY 
THE AGENCIJA ZA NACIONALNU BEZBJEDNOST (ANB), WHICH WAS SPLIT 
OFF FROM THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND THE POLICE IN 2005. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) DRUGS: THE "SECRET" ANB REGISTER, ACCORDING TO THE 
MEDIA, SAID SEVERAL ORGANIZED GROUPS IN MONTENEGRO THAT DEAL 
MAINLY IN DRUGS AND ARMS SMUGGLING ARE CONNECTED WITH CRIMINALS 
FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, WESTERN EUROPE AND SOUTH AMERICA. 
(N.B.: POST NOTES HOWEVER THAT THE ITALIAN EMBASSY HERE BELIEVES 
THE FORMERLY THRIVING AND CLOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ITALIAN 
ORGANIZED CRIME AND MONTENEGRO HAS DWINDLED SIGNIFICANTLY. AND 
THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVEN ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE ON THE SCALE OF THE 
PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME IN MONTENEGRO, IN SPITE OF 
THE ARREST OF FIVE RUSSIANS FOR ATTEMPTING TO MOVE LARGE AMOUNTS 
OF UNDECLARED CURRENCY. END NOTE.) ANB BELIEVES THAT MOST DRUGS 
TRANSIT MONTENEGRO FROM ALBANIA, AFGHANISTAN, TURKEY, AND SOUTH 
AMERICA, WITH THE MAJORITY OF DRUGS EXPORTED TO WESTERN EUROPE; 
ONLY A SMALL PORTION REMAINS IN THE LOCAL MARKET. COCAINE IS 
TRANSPORTED TO MONTENEGRO FROM SOUTH AMERICA, WHILE HEROIN COMES 
FROM AFGHANISTAN, TURKEY AND ALBANIA. MARIJUANA LARGELY 
ORIGINATES IN ALBANIA. ANB ASSERTS THAT MONTENEGRIN CRIMINALS 
ARE PART OF A CHAIN OF LARGE DRUG TRANSFERS GOING TO SERBIA, 
REPUBLIKA SRPSKA, BIH, CROATIA AND WESTERN EUROPE. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) EVEN THOUGH 70% OF THE DRUGS THAT ENTER MONTENEGRO ARE 
TRANSHIPPED TO OTHER COUNTRIES, MONTENEGRO CONFRONTS A GROWING 
DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM. FIFTY PERCENT OF PRISON INMATES WERE 
CONVICTED FOR DRUG-RELATED CRIMES.  DOMESTIC ABUSE IS LARGELY OF 
MARIJUANA, WITH SOME ABUSE OF COCAINE AND HEROIN REPORTED. SMALL 
QUANTITIES OF ECSTASY AND OTHER SYNTHETIC DRUGS ARE IMPORTED 
FROM SERBIA, WITH MORE SMUGGLING AND USE DURING THE SUMMER 
TOURISM SEASON. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) WEAPONS: SOME CRIMINAL GROUPS ARE SPORADICALLY ENGAGED IN 
SMUGGLING WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, ACCORDING TO MEDIA 
REPORTING ON THE ANB REPORT.  THE RUGGED TERRAIN IN THE REGION 
IS IDEAL FOR SMUGGLING. ANB BELIEVES THAT WEAPONS SMUGGLING GOES 
THROUGH THE SAME CHANNELS, CONDUCTED BY THE SAME PERSONS, AS THE 
TRANSFER OF NARCOTICS; OCCASIONALLY, WEAPONS ARE TRADED FOR 
DRUGS. THE WEAPONS, MAINLY COMING FROM THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA (IN 
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA) OR STOLEN FROM THE INSTALLATIONS OF THE 
FORMER STATE UNION MILITARY, ARE SMUGGLED FROM MONTENEGRO TO 
ALBANIA MAINLY BY LAND ROUTES, AND ACROSS SKADAR LAKE. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) ILLEGAL MIGRATION: ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ALSO CROSS MONTENEGRO 
INTO WESTERN EUROPE,  ACCORDING TO MEDIA STORIES ON THE ANB 
REPORT. ORGANIZERS ARE CRIMINAL GROUPS FROM THE REGION, OR FROM 
WESTERN EUROPE, WITH MONTENEGRIN CRIMINALS INTEGRATED INTO THE 
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK. ANB STATES THAT AFTER ARRIVING IN 
MONTENEGRO, MIGRANTS GET IN TOUCH WITH MONTENEGRIN CONTACTS THAT 
PROVIDE THEM TEMPORARY SHELTER IN THEIR HOMES OR OTHER 
FACILITIES. THEY ARE THEN TRANSPORTED TOWARD THE BOSNIAN BORDER 
WHERE THEY TRY TO CROSS OVER MOUNTAIN AND FOREST TRACKS WITH 
ASSISTANCE OF THE LOCAL GUIDES. MIGRANTS COME TO MONTENEGRO FROM 
ALBANIA THROUGH KOSOVO. THE ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ARE MAINLY KOSOVAR 
ALBANIANS AND CITIZENS OF ALBANIA, TURKEY, AND ROMANIA. 
 
B T 
#0229 
N 
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE -- 
 
PODGORICA 00000229  002.3 OF 004 
 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) TIP: NATIONAL ANTI-TIP COORDINATOR OBRENOVIC TOLD 
POLOFF ON JUNE 11 THAT HE AGREED WITH THE LATEST USG TIP REPORT 
WHEN IT STATED THAT "LOW-LEVEL CORRUPTION AMONG POLICE AND 
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS ... ALLOWS SOME TRAFFICKERS TO EVADE LAW 
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS." IOM COUNTRY OFFICE DIRECTOR ZIVKOVIC HAS 
REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR IOM EFFORTS TO HAVE THE MINISTRY OF 
LABOR AND SOCIAL WELFARE ESTABLISH BETTER METHODS TO IDENTIFY 
TIP VICTIMS. 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) CAR THEFT: DURING THE 1990S MONTENEGRO WAS INFAMOUS AS 
THE DESTINATION FOR MANY STOLEN VEHICLES OR VEHICLES "REMOVED 
FROM INSURANCE" -- TONGUE IN CHEEK, THE TOURISM SLOGAN "WELCOME 
TO MONTENEGRO, YOUR CAR IS ALREADY HERE" WAS PROPOSED. IN A JUST 
A FEW YEARS, MONTENEGRO "IMPORTED" SOME 55,000 USED VEHICLES 
FROM WESTERN EUROPE.  SINCE 2003 NEW PROCEDURES, FACILITATED BY 
BETTER COOPERATION WITH WESTERN EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS, HAVE 
MANDATED THAT THE TITLE AND PRIOR REGISTRATION, INCLUDING VIN, 
OF ALL IMPORTED VEHICLES IS RIGIDLY CHECKED BEFORE BEING 
REGISTERED IN MONTENEGRO. 
 
 
 
THE ORGANIZATION OF CRIME 
 
------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) THE MEDIA STATES THAT THE ANB REPORT POSITS EIGHT 
CRIMINAL CLANS IN MONTENEGRO: PODGORICA, BAR, AND ROZAJE HAVE 
TWO EACH; NIKSIC AND BERANE HAVE ONE EACH. (A CONTEMPORANEOUS 
MONTENEGRIN POLICE REPORT CLAIMS SEVEN CLANS: TWO IN BAR, ONE IN 
EACH OF BUDVA, KOTOR, PODGORICA, NIKSIC AND BERANE, ALSO 
ACCORDING TO PRESS ACCOUNTS.) ACCORDING TO THE PRESS, THE ANB 
CHARACTERIZES THE CLANS AS FOLLOWS: 
 
 
 
-- PODGORICA: THE TWO CLANS ARE INVOLVED IN THE SMUGGLING OF 
NARCOTICS, WEAPONS AND EXPENSIVE CARS ACROSS THE BORDER, WITH 
NARCOTICS GOING TO (AND THROUGH MONTENEGRO), WEAPONS FLOWING 
INTO ALBANIA, AND CARS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.  THEY ARE CONNECTED 
WITH CRIMINAL GROUPS IN SERBIA, CROATIA, BOSNIA, KOSOVO AND 
ALBANIA. MEHMED BELA DJOKOVIC (NFI) IS MENTIONED AS HAVING A 
CENTRAL ROLE IN THE ILLEGAL TRANSFER OF ALBANIANS FROM ALBANIA 
AND KOSOVO TOWARDS WESTERN EUROPE AND THE U.S., AND HAS 
REPORTEDLY BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED SEVERAL TIMES ABROAD. 
 
 
 
-- BAR: MONTENEGRO'S PORT. THESE CLANS ARE REPORTEDLY THE 
LARGEST AND BEST ORGANIZED, PRINCIPALLY INVOLVED IN THE 
SMUGGLING AND SALE OF COCAINE. THE LEADERSHIP IS ACCUSED OF THE 
MURDER OF FORMER POLICE CHIEF SLAVOLJUB SCEKIC. 
 
 
 
-- NIKSIC: MOSTLY ORIENTED TO SMUGGLING WITH THE REPUBLIKA 
SRSPKA. 
 
 
 
-- ROZAJE: VERY POWERFUL FINANCIALLY, AND CONNECTED TO CRIMINAL 
STRUCTURES IN KOSOVO, THEY ARE CENTRALLY INVOLVED IN THE 
SMUGGLING OF HEROIN FROM AFGHANISTAN AND TURKEY.  LEAD FIGURE IS 
SAFET KALIC, FROM ROZAJE (NFI). 
 
 
 
-- BERANE: CONNECTED TO CRIMINAL GANGS BASED IN BELGRADE. THE 
PRESS RECENTLY WROTE THAT MANY CRIMINALS FROM BERANE WERE 
INVOLVED IN DRUGS SMUGGLING IN SCANDINAVIA. 
 
 
 
ORGANISED CRIME AND TERRORISM 
 
----------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶10. (U)  THE TRIAL OF A CRIMINAL GROUP, DRAWN FROM THE CRIMINAL 
CLAN IN BAR, FOR THE AUGUST 2005 MURDER OF NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF 
SLAVOLJUB SCEKIC, HAS RECENTLY BEGUN. AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, 
SCEKIC WAS INVESTIGATING SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE ORGANISED CRIME 
ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE MURDER OF OPPOSITION NEWSPAPER EDITOR 
B T 
#0229 
N 
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE -- 
 
PODGORICA 00000229  003.3 OF 004 
 
 
DUSKO JOVANOVIC IN MAY 2004. (THE ONLY SUSPECT ARRESTED IN THE 
JOVANOVIC CASE WAS ACQUITED IN DECEMBER 2006.) THE TRIAL OF 18 
ETHNIC ALBANIANS ARRESTED IN SEPTEMBER 2006 ON CHARGES OF 
PLOTTING TERRORIST ACCTIVITIES IS ALSO IN PROGRESS. 
 
 
 
¶11. (U) WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY TO THE SPECIAL 
PROSECUTOR CHARGED TO FIGHT ORGANISED CRIME, THE CAPACITY OF 
THIS OFFICE IS BEING STRENGTHENED.  MONTENEGRO COOPERATES 
CLOSELY WITH INTERPOL.  MONTENEGRO SIGNED MEMORANDA OF 
COOPERATION IN FIGHTING ALL FORMS OF CRIME AND TERRORISM WITH 
AUSTRIA, ALBANIA, BULGARIA, UNMIK, SERBIA, CROATIA AND THE 
FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, AS WELL AS WITH ITALY. 
 
 
 
COUNTRY ACTIONS AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME AND CORRUPTION 
 
 
 
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES 
 
-------------------- 
 
 
 
¶12. (U) FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION IN 2005 OF THE STRATEGY FOR 
FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND ORGANISED CRIME, MONTENEGRO ADOPTED IN 
AUGUST 2006 THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
STRATEGY. ON MARCH 16, 2007, THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN STARTED TO OPERATE. THE 
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION IS DEPUTY PM GORDANA DJUROVIC, AND 
HER DEPUTY IS MINISTER OF INTERIOR JUSUF KALAMPEROVIC. THE 
OPERATIONAL HEAD IS THE CHIEF OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION INITIATIVE, 
FORMER DEPUTY JUSTICE MINISTER VESNA RATKOVIC (NOTE:  BETWEEN 
THESE TWO GOM POSITIONS, MS. RATKOVIC WAS USAID'S RULE OF LAW 
SPECIALIST). MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE THE MINISTERS OF 
FINANCE AND JUSTICE; THE PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT; POLICE 
DIRECTOR VESELIN VUKOTIC; VANJA CALOVIC, THE RESPECTED AND 
OUTSPOKEN HEAD OF A WATCHDOG NGO; CHIEF STATE PROSECUTOR VESNA 
MEDENICA; AND HEADS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES FOR 
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS. 
 
 
 
¶13. (SBU) THE STRUCTURE OF THE 2007 BUDGET MAKES FUNDING OF THE 
JUDICIARY VULNERABLE TO POLITICAL INFLUENCE.  THE EU AND OTHERS 
HAVE URGED THE GOM TO MAKE THE JUDICIARY FINANCIALLY 
INDEPENDENT, AS A MAJOR STEP IN STRENGTHENING THE RULE OF LAW 
AND FIGHTING CORRUPTION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO POLICE ACTIONS OR 
LEGAL TRIALS AGAINST MID-LEVEL OR SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 
FOR ORGANIZED CRIME AND CORRUPTION. 
 
 
 
 
 
AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES 
 
----------------------- 
 
 
 
¶14. (U) MONTENEGRO HAS RATIFIED THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST 
COURRUPTION, THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISED 
CRIME, THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON FIGHTING TERRORISM, AND 
BECAME A MEMBER OF THE IOM ON NOVEMBER 2006. MONTENEGRO HAS 
ACCEPTED THE THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF 
ACTS OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM. MONTENEGRO WORKS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS 
BILATERALLY AND IN REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO COMBAT ORGANIZED 
CRIME AND TRAFFICKING, AND IS SIGNATORY TO THE NEW SOUTH-EAST 
EUROPEAN COOPERATION PROCESS (SEECP) AND THE SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE 
COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE (SECI). 
 
 
 
ACCESSION TO INTERPOL 
 
--------------------- 
 
 
 
¶15. (U) MONTENEGRO JOINED INTERPOL AS ITS 185TH MEMBER IN 
SEPTEMBER 2006. BEGINNING IN 2001, MONTENEGRO HAD BEEN CONNECTED 
TO INTERPOL'S HEADQUARTERS IN LYON, FRANCE,  THROUGH BELGRADE. 
THE MEDIA REPORT THAT NINE MONTENEGRIN CITIZENS HAVE BEEN 
ARRESTED ABROAD, UNDER ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED BY THE MONTENGRIN 
POLICE, SINCE MONTENEGRO JOINED INTERPOL. ONE OF THEM, ANDRIJA 
PEKIC, IS EXPECTED TO BE EXTRADITED TO MONTENEGRO FROM THE U.S. 
B T 
#0229 
N 
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE -- 
 
PODGORICA 00000229  004.3 OF 004 
 
 
PEKIC HAD BEEN CONVICTED IN ABSENTIA OF RAPE AND SENTENCED TO 
FOUR YEARS IN PRISON. 
 
 
 
BORDER MANAGEMENT 
 
----------------- 
 
 
 
¶16. (U) WITH SMUGGLING A MAJOR FACTOR IN ORGANIZED CRIME, BORDER 
SECURITY HAS A PROMINENT ROLE. THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR TOOK 
CONTROL OF MONTENEGRO'S SHARE OF THE STATE UNION'S BORDERS FROM 
THE ARMY IN 2003. THE ELEVEN BORDER CROSSINGS HAVE BEEN 
RECONSTRUCTED, WITH USG (NINE) AND EU (TWO) SUPPORT. 
CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES HAS BEEN 
UPGRADED. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THIS WAS COMPLETED BY THE 
ADOPTION OF THE LAW ON THE STATE BORDER IN NOVEMBER 2005. A 
STRATEGY ON INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT (IBM) WAS ADOPTED IN 
FEBRUARY 2006, ALTHOUGH COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FOUR MAIN BODIES 
(MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, CUSTOMS, VETERINARY SERVICE, 
PHYTO-SANITARY SERVICE) CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY 
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
 
 
¶17. (SBU) "CORRUPTION AND ORGANIZED CRIME" IS A UNITARY PHRASE 
IN MONTENEGRO, IN PART BECAUSE IT IS A FAVORITE THEME OF THE 
POLITICAL OPPOSITION. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN INCREASINGLY IMPRECISE 
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SITUATION. HISTORICALLY, ORGANIZED CRIME 
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY MEANT SMUGGLING THROUGH MONTENEGRO. THAT 
PHENOMENOM MADE IT EASY FOR OFFICIALS TO LOOK AWAY, OR EVEN 
SUPPORT, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY - ESPECIALLY IN THE 1990S WHEN 
MONTENEGRO WAS OTHERWISE POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY ISOLATED 
THROUGH WARTIME SANCTIONS. THE MURDERS OF A PROMINENT EDITOR IN 
2004, AND OF THE POLICE CHIEF IN 2005, PROBABLY BY LOCAL 
ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES, ALTERED SOME PERCEPTIONS.  INCREASINGLY 
INTERNAL PRESSURE, AFTER MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE, AND IN 
CONNECTION WITH ITS BIDS FOR EU (AND NATO) MEMBERSHIP, HAVE ALSO 
RAISED THE CONCERNS ABOUT (ILLEGAL) BUSINESS AS USUAL. 
 
 
 
¶18. (SBU) EVEN WITH INCREASED POLITICAL WILL, MONTENEGRO IS 
HAMSTRUNG IN ATTACKING ORGANIZED CRIME.  IT IS ONLY RECENTLY, 
AND ONLY WITH OUTSIDE (PRIMARILY USG) HELP, THAT MONTENEGRO HAS 
EVEN THE RUDIMENTS OF THE LEGISLATION, EQUIPMENT, AND TRAINING 
NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE ORGANIZED CRIME. 
ADDITIONALLY HAMPERING THE FIGHT IS MONTENEGRO'S SMALL AND 
CLOSE-KNIT SOCIETY, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STRIKE HARD AND 
WITHOUT NOTICE AT MAJOR CRIME OPERATIONS.  STRONGER GOVERNMENT 
TRANSPARENCY MEASURES WILL HELP BREAK THE CASUAL LINKS BETWEEN 
CRIME CLANS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, BY EXPOSING UNEXPECTED 
WEALTH, AND INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF DECISION MAKING. 
BARNES 
B T 
#0229 
N 
-- END OF ERRORED MESSAGE --