Eight Montenegrin border police officers arrested for bribery

(Patria) - Montenegrin police today arrested eight Border Police officers on suspicion of organized bribery from foreign citizens from Albania, Turkey, and Kosovo, announced Montenegrin Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović.

As he specified, seven were arrested at their workplace at the border crossing between Montenegro and Albania - Božaj, and one in Danilovgrad, a town near Podgorica, reports RSE.

Criminal charges have been filed against 27 citizens of Albania, Turkey, and Kosovo, suspected of giving bribes, and according to Šaranović, efforts are underway to arrest them as well. This operation, he added, lasted for five months.

- Evidence indicates that the arrested police officers took money from passengers crossing the border for an extended period to allow them to perform official actions, and also, within their authority, took money for official actions they were obliged to perform - Šaranović told a press conference.

He also added that one of the arrested individuals felt unwell after his colleagues started to handcuff him, and he was transported to the Clinical Center.

- Official premises are being searched, and according to unofficial information, in addition to the material evidence we have so far, there will be additional evidence that will further confirm this - Šaranović stated.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, due to such cases, has adopted a regulation on the control of property, income, and lifestyle of police officers.

For its implementation, they are awaiting a positive opinion from the Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information Agency.