MONTENEGRO: INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PODGORICA 000273 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL (LYLE/KIMMEL); EUR/SCE (HOUGE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM MW SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO: INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INCSR),DRUGS AND CHEMICAL SECTION, VOLUME 1 REF: STATE 00100992 PODGORICA 00000273 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. Summary: Organized crime groups use Montenegro as a transit country for cannabis from Albania and Kosovo, and smaller amounts of other narcotics from the Middle East (heroine) and Latin America (cocaine),destined for the western Balkans and Western Europe. A small proportion of the smuggled narcotics is sold in the small but growing domestic market. The Government of Montenegro is implementing a comprehensive action plan against illegal drugs, and is seeking close law enforcement relationships with other states in the region. By using improved methods and additional technical capabilities in investigating drug trafficking, in cooperation with other countries, Montenegrin police disrupted several international smuggling operations. Montenegro became an independent state in June 2006, and is in the process of becoming a signatory to relevant international conventions and agreements. Montenegro is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, as a successor state of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. ¶2. Status of Country: There were no reports of significant production of narcotics, precursor chemicals or synthetic drugs in Montenegro. The Government of Montenegro estimates that only a small percentage of the illegal drugs entering the country are for the domestic market, although the police and press report that domestic drug addiction rates have been rising. Information on illegal drug use is not systematically recorded, but authorities estimate that Montenegro has between 2,000 and 3,000 addicts. Heroin is the most prevalent drug on the local market, but the use of ecstasy and amphetamines is on the rise. Crimes connected with narcotics also have increased, and currently 40 percent of all Montenegrin prison inmates have been convicted for narcotics-related offenses. Protection of its borders is a national priority for Montenegro. The United States and other international donors have supported efforts to tighten border controls. Recent U.S. donations of ocean and lake patrol craft have improved Montenegro's ability to curb water-borne smuggling. ¶3. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2008: Policy Initiatives. To position itself better for future EU accession, Montenegro is training more counter-narcotics investigators, procuring new equipment, and strengthening its inter-agency cooperation. In May 2008, the Montenegrin government issued the country's first National Strategy for Suppression of Drugs, along with a National Plan to implement that strategy. The government also plans to create a National Office, within the Ministry of Health, to coordinate the country's anti-drug efforts. Law Enforcement Efforts. The Drug Smuggling Suppression Department within the Police's crime division is responsible for coordinating cooperation and exchange of information between nine counter-drug police units located through Montenegro, the Customs Administration, the Ministry of Justice, and Interpol. The Ministry of Interior (MUP) compiles data on narcotics seizures. The Customs Administration likewise continued to strengthen its capacities. Police officials assert that their cooperation with Customs has been effective. During first nine months of 2008, police filed 338 criminal charges against 278 individuals for narcotics-related violations and made 280 seizures. Police estimated that the street value of confiscated drugs was about 2,305,000 euros (equivalent to 2,958,921 U.S. dollars). Police seized: * 201.8 kg of marijuana * 21.630 kg of heroin * 7.773 kg of cocaine * 0.9 kg MDMA synthetic drug * 0.1 kg amphetamine "speed" By using improved methods and additional technical capabilities, while building cooperation with other countries, Montenegrin police disrupted several international smuggling operations. Police cooperated actively with their counterparts in Australia, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The investigations are mostly focusing on the organizers of criminal groups, users, street dealers, and border seizures; PODGORICA 00000273 002.2 OF 003 major narcotics dealers are rarely arrested. According to the Chief State Prosecutor's Office, during 2007 out of 453 cases reported by police, the prosecutor's office indicted 391 persons plus 420 pending from the previous years, making a total of 811. During the same period, 320 persons were convicted for violations of Article 300 of the Criminal Code (related to production, storage, and sale of narcotics) and Article 301 (related to drug consumption). The sentencing for drug law violations in 2007 increased 32.84 percent in comparison to the previous five years. Corruption. Corruption and the perception that corruption is tolerated are common in Montenegro, and affect both law enforcement and the judiciary. The Government attempts to identify, prosecute, and punish instances of official corruption, but does not specify whether the acts underlying specific disciplinary actions and prosecutions are narcotics-related or not. Laws that criminalize corrupt activities by government employees address narcotics-related corruption. There were no fact based-reports of cases linking senior Government officials to the illicit narcotics trade, though one senior opposition leader claimed that the Government had links to a local "narco-cartel," but we have no information to corroborate such allegations. The Government has criminalized the production and distribution of narcotic and psychotropic drugs as well as the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions, and enforces these laws. However, public confidence in the Government's ability to combat corruption remained weak. As a matter of government policy, the GOM does not encourage or facilitate illicit production or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. Montenegro is a party to the UN Convention against Corruption. Agreements and Treaties. Montenegro became an independent state in June 2006, and has acceded to a number of multilateral treaties to which the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro was a party or signatory, including the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1961 UN Single Convention, as amended by the 1972 Protocol. Montenegro is also party to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols against migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons. The 1902 extradition treaty between the United States and the Kingdom of Serbia remains in force between the U.S. and Montenegro, and the Law on International Legal Aid in Criminal Matters (adopted in January 2008) is in force for the matters not covered by the extradition treaty. Montenegro acceded to the UN Convention against Corruption in June 2006. Montenegro was admitted in Interpol in June 2006 and in SECI in June 2008. In September 2008 Montenegro signed a strategic partnership with EUROPOL as a step towards the membership. Drug Flow/Transit. Organized crime groups use Montenegro as a transit point for drug smuggling, due to the country's central location and its topography-both coastal and mountainous. Marijuana/ cannabis is believed to transit Montenegro by several well established overland routes in private vehicles, by foot, on mules, etc., smuggled from producers in Albania and Kosovo, en route to the Western Balkans and Western Europe (primarily Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia). Heroin from Southwest Asia (Afghanistan) transits Albania and Kosovo and is smuggled to Montenegro in private vehicles before being transported further into Western Europe. Cocaine is smuggled by air and sea from South America (primarily Venezuela). The Montenegrin police report that the summer influx of tourists along Montenegro's coast has led to seasonal increases in use of illegal drugs. Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction. The Institute for Public Health believes that drug use is on the rise, including among minors, but has no database to track the number of drug addicts. The number of drug-related crimes is reportedly increasing. In Montenegro there is only one psychiatric clinic for treating drug addicts, and the facility's capacities are limited. Limited treatment and rehabilitation activities also are carried out in the hospitals in Podgorica and Niksic. Many patients used to go for treatment to Belgrade at their own expense. On March 31, 2008 the Center for Resocialization and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts was opened in Podgorica. Government run prevention programs for primary and secondary schools and NGOs assist with PODGORICA 00000273 003.2 OF 003 some of these efforts. Community police officers visit the schools to educate students about the risks associated with drugs use. A task force composed of the Ministries of Health, Labor and Social Welfare (Institute for Public Health),Interior and Public Administration, Culture, Sports and Media, Justice, Education and Science, local governments, and NGOs developed a National Strategy for the Fight against Drugs. There were only a few NGOs in Montenegro during 2008 dealing with drug related issues. ¶4. US Policy Initiatives: Bilateral Cooperation. MOI police and Customs officers continued to receive U.S. funded training in anti-organized crime operations and techniques. The U.S. continued to provide training, technical advice, equipment and other assistance to the Customs and MOI border police units. [ The Road Ahead. Accession to the EU and NATO remain Montenegro's primary foreign policy goals, providing a strong incentive to build up its criminal justice system to European standards. The U.S. coordinates its assistance programs and priorities with the EU and other international donors, particularly in strengthening the rule of law, combating corruption and developing an independent judiciary. The U.S. plans to continue its bilateral assistance for promoting rule of law in Montenegro, including suppression of narcotics trafficking. MOORE