Montenegro declares war on mafia clans

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić vowed on 23 July decisive action against organised crime following a National Security Council meeting, prompted by a surge of violence in the capital, Podgorica.

The move comes amid renewed fears over long-standing gang conflicts, particularly between the Kavač and Škaljari clans from Kotor.

The National Security Council convened after President Jakov Milatović called an urgent session of the separate Council for Security and Defence earlier in the week, addressing a wave of violence that included two murders in Podgorica between 16 and 19 July. The first victim, 29-year-old Igor Nedović, was killed in the historic Stari Varoš quarter, followed by 32-year-old Ivan Milačić, shot at point-blank range in a popular café, injuring two others, including a passerby. Additionally, Budva’s mayor, Nikola Jovanović, was attacked in broad daylight on the beach.

Investigators suspect these incidents are linked to a vendetta between the Kavač and Škaljari clans, potentially triggered by the 15 July killing of a Kavač member in Barcelona.

The clans, both based in Kotor, have been embroiled in a bloody feud since 2014, claiming over 50 lives.

Acting Police Director Lazar Ščepanović reported that 11 organized crime groups currently operate in Montenegro, with the two dominant clans each boasting over 300 members. Some killings may have been orchestrated by international criminal networks, he noted, citing concerns over a lenient penal system that has left at least 70 serious crime defendants free due to delayed trials.

Montenegro: President Milatović calls emergency security council meeting amid rising crime

Government response and proposed reforms

At the National Security Council meeting, Prime Minister Spajić announced plans for an urgent vetting of the judiciary in collaboration with the European Commission, addressing concerns about overturned detention orders contributing to the rise in violent crime.

He also tasked the Ministry of Justice with drafting a Law on the Confiscation of Assets Acquired Through Criminal Activity by October.

To assess the judiciary’s performance in handling serious criminal offenses, the Council will request detailed data from the Judicial Council, including: the total number of court decisions not drafted within legally mandated deadlines and the number of pre-trial detentions terminated due to courts failing to issue verdicts within three years of indictment.

In response to the recurring issue of verdicts not being delivered within the statutory three-year period, the Council urges the Ministry of Justice to propose amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. These amendments should focus on extending the maximum duration of pre-trial detention for the most serious criminal offenses beyond the current three-year limit. The Ministry is tasked with submitting these proposed amendments to the European Commission, accompanied by a comprehensive explanatory note, as a supplement to the existing Draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code.

In a statement on X, Spajić expressed full support for Ščepanović and the Police Directorate in their efforts to combat organized crime and corruption.

The violence has sparked political backlash. The opposition, led by the Democratic Party of Socialists, demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović and Deputy Prime Minister for Security Aleksa Bečić, accusing the government of incompetence.

The ruling majority countered, alleging the opposition was historically tied to mafia groups. Security expert Predrag Rakočević emphasized that the issue is systemic, stating, “Society is deeply contaminated. The violence is the product of gang rivalries spanning over a decade.”

The attack on Budva’s mayor has further complicated matters. Jovanović accused Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić of orchestrating the assault through a local criminal group tied to the Škaljari clan.

Only one of the three identified attackers, Vidak Mitrović, was detained, raising questions about enforcement. Ivan Pekić, president of the International Police Organization of Montenegro, noted the emergence of three new crime groups despite efforts to dismantle others, challenging claims that organized crime is under control.

Montenegro, a nation of 630,000, continues to grapple with its role as a smuggling route between East and West. Despite reforms aimed at boosting its image as a high-end tourism destination, the country faces pressure to strengthen the rule of law and ensure public safety.

The ongoing clan wars and recent violence underscore the deep-rooted influence of organised crime, casting a shadow over Montenegro’s rapid EU accession aspirations.

More Montenegro coverage here.

Other sources used: Press releases from the Office of the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. Edited by a.k.

Caption: The ninth session of the National Security Council of Montenegro, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić on 23 July 2025. The Council conducted a detailed analysis of recent mafia-style killings that have raised serious public concern. National Security Council