UK government is Montenegro's partner in the fight against organised crime

Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović met with Minister of Capital Investments Mladen Bojanić, Director of the Revenue and Customs Administration Milena Petričević, as well as representatives of the British Embassy in Podgorica to discuss opportunities for further support in customs legislation reform and further strengthening controls in the Free Zone of the Port of Bar.

DPM Abazović emphasised his determination in preventing all kinds of abuses in the Free Zone of the Port of Bar and stressed the need to strengthen capacities in the fight against tobacco smuggling. Abazović expressed great satisfaction with the end of decades-long organised tobacco smuggling through the Free Zone of the Port of Bar.

Representatives of the British Embassy stressed the investments made so far in strengthening the capacity of the customs authorities, including donations of valuable equipment, as well as the continued investments in the development of the infrastructure for customs controls in the Free Zone. The UK Government remains a committed partner to the Montenegrin government in all aspects of the fight against organised crime, by supporting the strengthening of border security checks to prevent the illegal flow of goods, but also by strengthening legitimate trade mechanisms in the country and the region.