A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) highlights the troubling relationship between the private sector and organized crime in Montenegro. The report, part of the 2025 Organized Crime Index, reveals that state actors maintain deep connections with criminal enterprises, facilitating illegal activities through corruption and regulatory weaknesses.
In the report, Montenegro ranks as the 10th most affected country by organized crime, while Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina follow closely at 4th and 6th respectively. The country is noted for hosting two dominant mafia groups: the Kavac and Skaljari clans, which exert significant influence over the country’s criminal landscape. Their operations extend beyond Montenegro, impacting neighboring regions.
Despite intensified police efforts, including the arrest of key members, these clans continue to control criminal markets. The report states that they maintain recruitment channels, even from within prisons. Key revenue streams for these organizations include cocaine trafficking and money laundering, with Europol estimating that they control at least 30 percent of the cocaine entering Europe from South America.
The report further details how the ports of Bar and Kotor serve as critical entry points for cocaine smuggling. Clans are also involved in extortion and racketeering, employing violence and intimidation to protect their operations. This has led to an escalation in conflicts and a rise in homicides among rival factions, placing Montenegro among the countries with the highest rates of firearm incidents in the region.
Recent encrypted communications have revealed how criminal proceeds are used to gain political protection and influence judicial and police actions. High-ranking officials have been implicated in transnational crime activities, including drug trafficking and illegal tobacco trade. While investigations and arrests occur, the ongoing involvement of state officials undermines the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.
The private sector’s role in facilitating organized crime, particularly through real estate and financial criminal activities, is evident. The report emphasizes that financial crime in Montenegro is deeply rooted, characterized by poor public fund management, irregularities in political financing, and widespread corruption. Discrepancies in the use of EU funds and fraud in privatization processes further highlight systemic weaknesses in the financial sector.
Human trafficking remains a persistent issue, with a significant increase in reported cases involving Russian nationals. Additionally, Roma children are often forced into begging and illegal marriages, with authorities frequently dismissing these cases as “cultural practices.”
Border security poses a challenge, as Montenegro serves as a key transit point for various illegal activities. The authors of the report note that despite commitments to combat organized crime and corruption, political divisions and instability continue to hinder effective governance and legislative reforms.
The report concludes with concerns about the independence of the judiciary, particularly following high-profile acquittals in money laundering cases, which raise questions about the quality of investigations and legal accountability in Montenegro.
