Allegations of Cigarette Smuggling Emerge in Montenegro Case

In Montenegro, allegations of cigarette smuggling have surfaced against businessman Aleksandar Mijajlović, as his lawyer, Zoran Piperović, presented evidence in the High Court of Podgorica today. The cigarettes in question are reportedly owned by Lenora Internacional, which the state seized after they were not transported from the Free Customs Zone in the Port of Bar within the specified time frame.

During the hearing to review the indictment, Piperović provided documentation from the Revenue and Customs Administration, asserting that the seized cigarettes were legal imports rather than contraband. He emphasized that the documents explicitly indicate that the cigarettes were subject to importation, and not smuggling. According to Piperović, the administration’s resolution mandated that Lenora Internacional remove the cigarettes from Montenegro to their country of origin within 80 days of receiving the notice.

Piperović also noted that the company had requested a 15-day extension from the Ministry of Finance due to the illness of the ship’s captain tasked with transporting the goods. He alleged that the situation escalated when Dritan Abazović, whose role was not detailed in the initial claims, intervened and characterized the cigarettes as illegal.

The case, which involves multiple parties, has merged three separate indictments, implicating a total of twenty defendants. These individuals are accused of defrauding the state treasury of millions. Alongside Mijajlović, other notable names include Dejan Jokić, Zoran Đukanović, and Golub Vojinović, among others.

Piperović challenged the prosecution’s lack of evidence, stating, “I assert that there is no evidence. The prosecutor knows this well.” He criticized the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SDT) for claiming that a criminal organization led by Mijajlović caused damage to the state budget by evading customs duties, arguing that only legal cigarettes can be subject to customs.

“Nowhere in the world does illegal goods get cleared through customs,” he stated, underscoring the absurdity of the allegations. Piperović further pointed out that the prosecution failed to demonstrate where the alleged smuggled cigarettes were located or how Mijajlović purportedly acquired them.

The defense also questioned the credibility of the indictment, asserting that it relied on “bare assertions” without supporting evidence, which is not recognized under criminal law. Piperović argued that every claim must be substantiated by proof, and he expressed skepticism about the prosecution’s reliance on communication records from the Sky platform, which were not formally requested through international legal assistance.

The prosecution, represented by Miroslav Turković, countered these claims, stating that the evidence collected during investigations was obtained lawfully. Turković informed the court that the evidence includes information from international legal assistance, including Sky communications and lists from foreign state agencies.

While the prosecution aims to proceed with the case, defense attorney Nikola Martinović, representing another defendant, highlighted a critical concern regarding the lack of new evidence since the initial investigation. He argued that the indictment does not specify the nature or quantity of the goods allegedly involved in the smuggling operation, which is essential for establishing the crime.

In a broader critique of the judicial process, attorney Stefan Jovanović expressed his belief that the hearings for reviewing indictments have lost their purpose. He remarked, “These hearings no longer make sense. They have become mere formalities,” suggesting that many indictments are confirmed without thorough examination.

As the case unfolds, the implications of these allegations extend beyond the individuals involved, potentially affecting public trust in the judicial system and law enforcement in Montenegro. The next steps will determine whether the prosecution can substantiate its claims and bring the case to trial.