Montenegro police discovers large money-laundering scheme, two arrested, third at large

• Montenegro to launch Interpol arrest warrant for major money laundering suspect Safet Kalić

• Safet Kalić and two of his close relatives, arrested yesterday, are suspected of laundering over €7.2m

Podgorica, Montenegro (28 July 2011) – Montenegrin police arrested last night Mersudin Kalić and Amina Kalić from the northern town of Rožaje, suspected of laundering over EUR 7.2 million together with Safet Kalić, who is at large and for whom an Interpol arrest warrant will soon be issued.

Safet, Mersudin and Amina Kalić are suspected to have run a large money-laundering scheme in the period 2006-2011 by taking up loans in Montenegrin commercial banks and paying them back with illegal money, attempting to create an impression of money’s legal origin. The money which they have been trying to legalise in Montenegro is believed to have been grossed by Mersudin Kalić from narcotics trafficking in Europe, for which he is already convicted in Germany.

The third suspect, Safet Kalić is currently at large and the police are running the necessary procedures for issuing an Interpol arrest warrant for him.

A large amount of assets have been seized by the police and a number of vehicles and other material evidence will also be confiscated by the police to serve as evidence in the proceedings.