Several people arrested in Montenegro on suspicion of involvement in cigarette smuggling

(Patria) - By order of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, officers of the Special Police Department are searching multiple locations on suspicion of cigarette smuggling. According to unofficial information, several people have been arrested. Companies and individuals believed to be involved in cigarette smuggling are being investigated.

Vijesti reports that the arrested individuals are Mileta Simanić from Nikšić, Marko Mićković from the forwarding company "Knjaz", Ratka Mandić, Đoko Lješković, and Rajko Đurović.

According to the media outlet, this is an expanded investigation by the Special State Prosecutor's Office into the smuggling of at least 40 truckloads of cigarettes, which were smuggled from the beginning of 2019 to November 2020.

On the other hand, RTCG reported that the SDT is particularly interested in cigarettes seized by Montenegrin customs at the Port of Bar in September last year. They were sent by a company from Libya and were supposed to end up in Serbia.

The cigarettes arrived in Bar by ship from the United Arab Emirates, after which they attempted to transport them further towards Serbia.

However, they did not succeed because Serbia banned the import of these cigarettes.

Police searches are underway in several municipalities.

The SDT has not yet officially commented.