Washington: Montenegro's delegation visits Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Washington D.C, the USA (16 April 2014) – Montenegro’s delegation visited earlier today the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The delegation got acquainted with the DEA‘s organisational and operational structure, as well as the functioning of individual departments within the agency such as the Special Operations Division, the El Paso Intelligence Centre (EPIC), the Office for Financial Operations, etc. The visits gave the Montenegrin delegation an opportunity to exchange experiences in the field of application of special investigative techniques, procedures in cases of transnational organised crime and high-level corruption, as well as in the forfeiture of proceeds of crime area.

Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Duško Marković, Interior Minister Raško Konjević and Head of the Police Authority Slavko Stojanović, met in Washington with DEA’s Director Michele Leonhart and FBI’s Deputy Director Mark Giuliani.

Montenegro has been pursuing concrete actions towards enhancing its regulatory and institutional frameworks for combating all forms of organised crime, DPM Marković stated.

Interior Minister Konjević pointed out that the intensification of partnership with the DEA and the FBI will further strengthen bilateral relations between Montenegro and the United States in the law enforcement area and boost joint commitment to detecting and prosecuting organised crime groups.

Director of the US Drug Enforcement Agency especially emphasised Montenegro’s contribution in combating drug trafficking and thanked the Government of Montenegro for its cooperation in recent joint operations. He also thanked the Government for taking part in the International Drug Enforcement Conference on Drugs (IDEC) in Bangkok in 2011.

It was concluded that Montenegro, by participating in joint operation, has confirmed its role of a reliable and credible partner in the global fight against transnational organised crime.