Montenegro police destroys 2.7 tonnes of narcotics

· Montenegro police destroys 2.7 tonnes of narcotics worth EUR 6.7m

· Police vows strong and proactive combat in cooperation with international partners


Podgorica, Montenegro (6 July 2011) – Montenegro police destroyed 2.7 tonnes of narcotics estimated at around EUR 6,7m at the KAP aluminium smelter in Podgorica earlier today. The narcotics destroyed were seized in the cases now concluded by the courts, whereas additional 1.5 tonnes are due to be destroyed in a similar fashion following court decisions, Police Director Veselin Veljović told the press.

The Police Director underlined that the international cooperation in the area of combat against narcotics has increased in the previous period, noting that over the past four years over 3.5 tonnes of narcotics had been impounded, resulting in criminal charges against 2,066 people, which in his words shows “strong determination” of all parties involved in the process to adequately respond to this threat and proves to international stakeholders that “Montenegro is a reliable partner”.

Mr Veljović invited all society’s stakeholders to join forces to apply “preventive and proactive means” to combat narcotics, at the same time pledging that “the Police will continue to act aggressively and proactively against these challenges, both domestically and internationally.” Such views and invitations were reiterated by Judge Dragiša Rakočević who expressed hope that Montenegro will have to deal with fewer cases such as this one in the future.

The Head of Narcotics and Smuggling Department Miodrag Laković, specified the types of narcotics being destroyed: 2,6 tonnes of cannabis products, 9.7 kg of hashish, 56.4 kg of heroine, 2.15 kg of cocaine, nearly four thousand ecstasy pills and 555 amphetamine-type synthetic pills.

The Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Daliborka Pejović, confirmed that the destruction of narcotics will produce no negative effects on the population or the environment.