Montenegro Promises 'Independent' Probe Into Smuggling Case

Minister Ivan Brajovic said that the prosecution would do its job independently of other authorities.

"Everyone is doing their job. When you have something that creates so much media attention, it is normal that everybody pays attention to it," said Brajovic.

He made the remarks as police begin an investigation into allegations that a factory in Mojkovac produced illegal cigarettes.

Following a report by Montenegrin daily Vijesti, Podgorica police raided the factory at the weekend and collected evidence to investigate claims that the factory branded cigarettes designed for the gray market.

The minister said that as far as he knows, there is no connection between Justice Minister Dusan Markovic and police director Veselin Veljovic and the factory in Mojkovac that allegedly produced illegal cigarettes, despite claims in media reports.

"We will wait for the completion of a thorough inspection and on the basis of these reports take further steps," said Brajkovic, adding that he knows only what he could see in the papers, and that there is currently "nothing suspicious".

"Papers are often only papers, we will see. As you can see, this has been constantly in the media and I am glad that the prosecution is doing its work independently of other organs," said Brajovic.

Information portal "Vijesti online" reported that cigarette smuggling between Montenegro and Kosovo has mainly been carried out on forest roads and through the Kula border crossing.

Referring to several sources within the police, "Vijesti" reported that a "highly organised group of people had worked out a method to smuggle not only cigarettes without excise stamps, but also coffee and sugar."

"Cigarettes are stored in the warehouse of a ruined factory in Rozaje. There are jeeps, vans, small trucks, and tractors that drive through the forest towards the village of Balotic on roads built previously by the army and later controlled by the border police," he said.

This smuggling, it claimed, took place over several years and was extremely organised. Each driver had an escort, and fake loggers in the forest blocked unannounced police patrols by putting trees across the road.