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15 clusters · 200 sources · 50 days · First seen · Last updated

Law enforcement and safety trends in the Balkans

Overview

Law enforcement and safety issues continue across the Balkans, with recent reports highlighting significant traffic violations, violent crimes, and organized crime investigations.

In Montenegro, Mersudin Čalaković remains in the Spuž investigation prison following new proceedings by the Special State Prosecutor's Office regarding large-scale cigarette smuggling. Although his previous detention for murder and kidnapping was revoked due to the expiration of a three-year period without a first-instance verdict, he was arrested at the prison gates on September 22. The investigation involves individuals such as Ernad Murić and relies on Sky application communications. Čalaković has denied the allegations, stating he “never used the Sky application”.

A cross-border investigation is also targeting a cigarette smuggling ring operating between Republika Srpska and Montenegro. Authorities believe Nebojša Miletić and Mladen Zirojević monitored Bosnian border police shifts from a house in eastern Bosnia to exploit vulnerabilities. The operation allegedly involved receiving contraband from Montenegro in the Gacko municipality, potentially collaborating with Predrag and Marko Cicmil in Plužine. The Cicmil brothers are among nine individuals, including four police officers, currently on trial in Podgorica for organized crime activities between 2019 and 2021.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Municipal Court in Sarajevo extended the detention of four suspects—Admir Arnautović, Anel Sejfović, Adnan Maglić, and Mirsad Mujkić—involved in the “Catering” operation for two months. The investigation targets suspected illegal drug trafficking, extortion, and causing public danger. While these four remain in custody, the court released Hamza Asotić under specific restrictions and reporting requirements.

Other regional activities include police in Kosovo arresting international fugitive Rami Kuçi and seizures of firearms in Gjilan.

Entities

Podgorica · Supreme Court of Montenegro · Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton · Serbia · Montenegrin Police

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Smuggling ring investigated across Bosnia and Montenegro border

    Police are investigating a cigarette smuggling ring operating across the Bosnia and Montenegro border, involving organized crime groups and alleged collusion with law enforcement officers.

  2. [CRIME] 14 sources
    Mersudin Čalaković and Catering operation suspects face continued detention

    Criminal investigations continue in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Mersudin Čalaković detained for cigarette smuggling and four suspects in the “Catering” operation seeing their detention extended.

  3. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Regional security updates: Crime reductions in Montenegro and drug seizures in Serbia

    Police in Montenegro and Serbia report stable security conditions, noting significant drug seizures in Serbia and a reduction in crime rates in Bar, Montenegro, despite staffing shortages.

  4. [CRIME] 47 sources
    Balkan police conduct multiple operations involving arrests and weapon seizures

    Police across the Balkans have carried out numerous operations, resulting in arrests for murder, drug trafficking, domestic violence, and illegal weapons possession in Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia.

  5. [CRIME] 36 sources
    Bosnia and Herzegovina police execute Operation Pantera drug raid

    Bosnian police executed “Operation Pantera,” arresting four suspects and seizing 25kg of narcotics, a cannabis plantation, weapons, and 70,000 KM in cash across three cantons.

  6. [CRIME] 12 sources
    Balkan region sees surge in major criminal trials and indictments

    Multiple legal developments are occurring in the Balkans and France, including murder indictments in Croatia, human trafficking convictions in Paris, and ongoing high-profile trials in Montenegro and Serbia.

  7. [CRIME] 52 sources
    Balkan police conduct major operations against drugs and weapons

    Police across the Balkans have seized large quantities of drugs, explosives, and weapons, including a major arsenal near Zenica, while conducting multiple arrests for smuggling and forgery.

  8. [CRIME] 16 sources
    Montenegro and Bosnia report various criminal incidents

    Police in Montenegro and Bosnia report multiple crimes, including forged lifeguard licenses in Igalo, sexual assault in Bijelo Polje, rising school violence in Tuzla, and a prison brawl in Spuž.

  9. [CRIME] 13 sources
    Balkan police report multiple arrests for assault and public disorder

    Police in Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have conducted several arrests involving attempted murder, violent assaults, public disorder, and attacks on law enforcement.

  10. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Balkan authorities crack down on organized drug trafficking networks

    Police in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are targeting drug smuggling rings, involving the arrest of a man for transporting 20kg of marijuana and the detention of suspects in the “Amadeus” operation.

  11. [CRIME] 62 sources
    Balkan police conduct major operations against organized crime and drug trafficking

    Police in Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Croatia have conducted multiple operations against drug trafficking, organized crime, and property theft, resulting in numerous arrests and seizures.

  12. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Slovenian police report weekend drug seizures and traffic offenses

    Slovenian police conducted multiple operations over the weekend, resulting in drug seizures, arrests for driving without licenses, and interventions for traffic and public order offenses.

  13. [CRIME] 84 sources
    Balkan region reports multiple criminal and regulatory enforcement actions

    Law enforcement across the Balkans reports multiple incidents, including a double homicide in Albania, maritime and traffic crackdowns in Montenegro, and arson and tax evasion cases in Croatia and Bosnia.

  14. [CRIME] 10 sources
    Regional police report surge in traffic violations and crime

    Police across Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Tivat report increased enforcement against traffic violations, property crime, illegal camping, and irregular stays by foreign nationals.

  15. [INTERNATIONAL] 15 sources
    Balkan regional updates: Tourism, safety, and infrastructure

    Regional reports from the Balkans detail rising cruise tourism in Croatia, wildfire response and traffic fines in Montenegro, and festival-related road closures in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sources

023.hr · 035portal.hr · 072info.com · 24-ore.com · 24sata.hr · 24ur.com · 6yka.com · abcnews.al · abcportal.info · aktuelno.me · aleksinacbiz.com · almakos.com · anguillanews.com · atvbl.rs · atvlive.tv · balkaninsight.com · balkantrip.com · balkanweb.com · banjaluka.com · banjaluka.net · barinfo.me · beraneonline.me · beta.rs · bigportal.ba · bijeljina.com · bizniscg.me · bl-portal.com · bodulija.net · bokanews.me · borba.me · bosnainfo.ba · capital.ba · centralna.ba · cetinjskilist.com · cityportal.hr · crnagoravijesti.me · dalmacijadanas.hr · dalmacijanews.hr · dalmatinskiportal.hr · dan.co.me · danas.rs · dancersglobal.com · delo.si · depo.ba · detektor.ba · dnevnik.ba · dnevnik.hr · dnevno.hr

This summary has been updated 41 times: see revision history