Montenegro has become one of Europe’s major cocaine transporting countries. The country’s police regularly bust drug trafficking gangs who smuggle tonnes of illicit drugs from seaports to the heart of Europe. The Balkan country is not only active in transshipment, however. Cocaine sells like hot cakes in their luxury seaside resorts in the summer season.

It arrives by sea and leaves by road

Drug shipments usually arrive at Bar, the largest seaport of the tiny country, Montenegrin police say. The smugglers then divide the cargo into smaller portions, and transport it through the country in trucks to sell them in the European Union. The police regularly apprehend trucks carrying hidden stashes of cocaine. The illegal goods are concealed in the openings of the ventilation system, in the spare tyre, or in purpose-made secret compartments.

Drugs are transited, but are also sold in place

Summer is not only a high season for tourism in Montenegro, but also for the illicit drug trade. When seaside towns get filled with tourists, the revenue of drug traffickers and dealers also steeply rises, local police data suggests.

According to the police, the „wholesale” price of a kilogram of cocaine is between 35 and 40 thousand euros, which is then sold to customers for 70-100 euros per gram. Prices increase significantly during the touristic season: one gram of cocaine can be purchased for up to 100-150 euros. Wealthy customers coming to the seaside resorts and the vibrant night life also contribute to the dealers’ steady, high incomes.

Photo: Montenegro’s interior ministry

Police operations increasingly effective

In recent weeks, local law enforcement agencies have released information on a number of successful police operations. At the end of July, as the result of the most recent sting operation called Florida, 28 people were arrested on suspicion of international drug smuggling and illegally transporting 6.1 tons of cocaine. Operation Florida was supported and coordinated by Europol with the cooperation of Serbia, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.

📢 REALIZOVANA AKCIJA „FLORIDA I“ ‼️
🔻🔻🔻
U aktivnostima @PolicijaCG i organa za sprovođenje zakona iz više zemalja, koordiniranim od strane @Europol, procesuirano je 28 lica zbog krijumčarenja 6⃣,1⃣ tone kokaina na transnacionalnom nivou.
⏬https://t.co/FyFPnP1ru0 pic.twitter.com/zHZC1Bruqb

— Uprava policije Crne Gore (@PolicijaCG) July 27, 2022

The operation was carried out in seven countries, in a total of 52 locations, out of which 33 locations were in Montenegro. During the operation, the squad seized tens of thousands of euros in cash, expensive watches, bank cards, weapons, ammunition, motor vehicles, and a speedboat.

Photo: Montenegro’s interior ministry

According to the police, the large busts in recent weeks suggest that Montenegro has become an extremely important transit country for drug smuggling networks. At the same time, they note that, thanks to law enforcement operations, the situation has somewhat improved and that the port of Bar is gradually being cleared of illicit drugs and dealers.

Montenegrin and international agencies have been working since 2019 to dismantle a large international drug trafficking network. The group transports drugs from South America to Europe and its members are Montenegrin, Italian, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian and British citizens, based on information available so far.