Cigarette Smuggling Case Discussed in January

A decision on possible court proceedings against a group of nationals from Montenegro, Italy and Serbia on their alleged involvement in an international cigarettes smuggling ring will be discussed in January, a court in Bari, Italy, decided.

According to local media, the decision on possible court proceedings will be determined on 18 January.
    
They are accused of being involved in cigarette smuggling between 1994 and 2000, and the list includes seven Italians, five Montenegrins and two Serbs, broadcaster RTS reports.

The trial began in November 2001. The Prosecutor of Bari's court, Giuseppe Scelsi, included Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic in the investigation due to his alleged role in the smuggling.

"For almost a decade, Montenegro has been a haven for illegal trafficking, where criminals acted with impunity, while the ports of Bar and Kotor were used as logistics bases for motor boats, with protection which was guaranteed by the government," the court's document says.

Djukanovic was in Bari last year answering questions from the prosecution. Soon after that, the case in relation to him was archived.

In a series of interviews with journalists, held in August, the prime minister's former ally, Ratko Knezevic, said that tobacco smuggling grew once Djukanovic took power in Montenegro in 1997, referring to Djukanovic as the “cartel boss”.

By 1999-2000 the illicit trade was worth several billion dollars annually, according to EU and US agencies. Djukanovic struck back against these allegations, stressing that no proof has been presented since local media started reporting on his alleged involvement in mafia tobacco trading.

Scelsi told Podgorica daily Dan two weeks ago that Djukanovic could be tried for his alleged involvement in cigarette smuggling once he leaves politics.

“Milo Djukanovic is being protected by immunity while he is the prime minister and chief of state. The moment he no longer has immunity, he will be able to be tried in a special procedure, different from the one that involves seven citizens from Montenegro and Serbia, which began on November 11,” the daily quoted Scelsi as saying.

The Montenegrin prime minister said that he did not use his immunity when testifying before the Italian courts and that he will be suing Scelsi who used the immunity “as an emergency exit from the uncomfortable circumstances of leading a ten-year investigation without arguments.”