POLITICAL GAMES AND CRIME AT THE TOP OF MONTENEGRIN POLICE: ŠĆEPANOVIĆ, CIGARETTE SMUGGLING AND BEMAX SCANDAL
Welcome to the Montenegrin security circus where the police top brass and political elites play dangerous games, and crime flourishes like never before! While citizens wait for therapies and struggle with daily problems, the state spends millions on luxury limousines, yachts, and planes, while behind the scenes a real criminal drama unfolds.
Main Players: Šćepanović and Political Tensions
Lazar Šćepanović, acting director of the Police Administration, was recently reappointed to his position with the support of the police and Democrats. However, his reappointment did not go without friction. MP Jovan Vučurović of the New Serbian Democracy abstained from voting, causing heated reactions and revealing deep political divisions within the government. Criticism concerns the police’s failure to resolve road blockades threatening the tourist season, as well as alleged misuse of the police for political purposes.
Cigarette Smuggling and the Rokšped Criminal Network
The Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) recently arrested longtime secret agent Duško Golubović and other members of a criminal group linked to the Rokšped company, owned by the Stanaj family. This group is accused of international cigarette smuggling worth nearly 20 million euros, with operations spanning Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy.
The Stanaj brothers, Sander and Nuo, are the main organizers, and the SDT has issued warrants for their arrest as they are currently unavailable to investigators. The investigation reveals that this criminal organization had influence within the executive branch, police, and customs, further complicating the situation.
Bemax and Political Connections
At the center of the scandal is the construction company Bemax, known for its ties to the top of power in the previous regime. Šćepanović hinted at the existence of “Bemax 2” during a closed parliamentary session, implying that business-criminal circles from Serbia, connected to Aleksandar Vučić, have already infiltrated the Montenegrin coast and are attempting to launder large sums of money.
Aleksandar Mijajlović, owner of Bemax, was arrested last year for international cigarette smuggling, casting further shadow over the entire story.
Lavish Spending of State Money
While the state struggles with citizens’ problems, the government splurges! The purchase of 30 new official vehicles worth nearly a million euros, buying a yacht for a state company, and a planned purchase of a plane for 25 million euros are just the tip of the iceberg. The Montenegrin Parliament has spent close to a million euros on limousines in recent years, and MPs have access to a fleet of 37 vehicles.
The opposition and part of the public condemn these expenses as luxury projects that have no place in the budget of a country struggling with social problems.
Political Control Over the Security Sector
Conflicts within the government over control of the police and security sector are evident. The former Democratic Front demands the dismissal of Šćepanović and the entire security sector, dissatisfied with the prosecution of cases related to their members and close associates. On the other hand, the current police leadership claims it will not allow the police to be misused for political purposes.
Conclusion: Montenegro on the Brink of Chaos?
All these scandals, political games, and criminal networks plunge Montenegro into a deep crisis of trust in institutions. While political elites fight for control over the police and state resources, ordinary citizens suffer—from road blockades to lavish spending of state money.
Will someone finally put an end to this chaos, or will we watch the country sink into crime and corruption? What do you think about all this? Is this just the tip of the iceberg or is the real disaster yet to come? Drop a comment, let’s see who else is outraged or maybe has a hilarious joke about this!
