Regional security updates: Crime reductions in Montenegro and drug seizures in Serbia

Law enforcement officials in Montenegro and Serbia have reported updates on regional security and crime statistics. In Bar, Montenegro, the Security Department noted a significant decrease in criminal activities, including robberies and thefts, despite a shortage of 53 police officers. Currently, 73 officers are active in the area, with 13 new recruits expected in January to address staffing needs.

In Serbia, Police Director Dragan Vasiljević reported that approximately nine tons of narcotics were seized during more than 7,000 operations over the past nine months. Vasiljević noted that while the security situation remains stable and murders have decreased by 3.3 percent, criminal groups are increasingly utilizing younger perpetrators while organizers often operate from abroad. Other challenges identified include high-tech crime, such as credit card fraud and internet scams, as well as managing cross-border crime and irregular migration.