Coordinated action day of the first joint investigation team (JIT) in Montenegro

On 28 September coordinated searches and arrests took place in Montenegro and Moldova to halt the activities of an organized criminal group suspected to be involved in money laundering. Searches that were carried out at 15 locations, 4 in Montenegro, resulted in seizures of 100 bank cards, dozens of SIM cards, nine mobile phones, two luxury vehicles worth about 100,000 euros, about 3,000 euros in cash, three laptops.

In Montenegro two persons suspected of having committed money laundering and in Moldova four persons suspected of drug trafficking were arrested. (Read more on the following link: https://www.gov.me/clanak/medunarodni-predmet-mig-u-crnoj-gori-uhapsene-dvije-osobe-zbog-pranja-novca)

The Joint investigation team of Montenegrin and Moldovan Authorities supported by the project Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans – IPA 2019 (CSC WB) and SELEC enabled cooperation and coordination in the case. It was for the first time that Montenegro concluded an Agreement on a joint investigation team. In Montenegro the Special Prosecutor in charge of the case, who also coordinated yesterday’s action, is the team leader. The team members are police officers of the Crime Sector of Montenegro.

CSC WB project has been significantly supporting Special Prosecutor’s Office of Montenegro since the beginning of this case starting by a suggestion on the best international instrument for judicial cooperation and continuing by legal and practical advice in negotiating the JIT agreement, its signing and amending. Several operational meetings with active participation and financial support of the project were held to discuss legal and operational questions as well as to prepare a roadmap for the upcoming activities.

Photo source: Police of Montenegro