A recent report from the **Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)** reveals that organized crime in **Montenegro** is significantly bolstered by deep ties between state actors and criminal networks. The report, part of the **Organized Crime Index 2025**, highlights how corruption and regulatory weaknesses facilitate illegal activities across the country.
Montenegro ranks tenth on the Index, with its organized crime resilience rated at 37. In comparison, **Serbia** stands fourth and **Bosnia and Herzegovina** sixth. The report emphasizes that Montenegro is home to two dominant mafia groups, the **Kavac** and **Skalar clans**, which exert substantial influence over the nation’s criminal landscape. Their operations extend beyond Montenegro, affecting neighboring countries as well.
Despite increased police efforts, including the arrests of key members, these gangs continue to dominate criminal markets, even recruiting new members from within prisons. The report details that the primary revenue sources for these groups are cocaine trafficking and money laundering. According to **Europol**, they control at least **30 percent** of cocaine entering Europe from South America.
The **Kavac** and **Skalar clans** maintain strong connections with criminal organizations across the **European Union**, **Latin America**, and the **Western Balkans**. The ports of **Bar** and **Kotor** serve as crucial entry points for cocaine smuggling operations. Additionally, these gangs are involved in extortion and racketeering, utilizing violence and intimidation to protect their criminal enterprises. This has led to an escalation of conflicts and a rising number of homicides among rival groups, positioning Montenegro among the countries with the highest rates of firearm incidents in the region.
The report cites leaked encrypted communications that reveal how criminal proceeds are leveraged for political protection and influence over the judiciary and law enforcement. High-ranking officials are implicated in transnational criminal activities, including drug trafficking, illicit tobacco trade, and illegal logging. Although investigations and arrests are ongoing, the persistent involvement of state officials undermines the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.
The private sector in Montenegro is also identified as a facilitator of organized crime, particularly through real estate transactions and financial criminal activities. The report points out that financial crime is deeply entrenched, characterized by mismanagement of public funds, irregularities in political financing, and widespread corruption. Furthermore, irregularities in the use of EU funds and fraud in privatization processes highlight systemic weaknesses within the financial sector.
Human trafficking remains a pressing issue in Montenegro, with a notable increase in the number of Russian nationals among the victims in recent years. Roma children often face forced begging and illegal marriages, with authorities frequently dismissing these cases as “cultural practices.”
Border security presents a considerable challenge as Montenegro serves as a key transit point for various illegal activities. The authors of the report note that despite commitments to combat organized crime and corruption, political divisions and instability continue to hinder effective governance and the implementation of legislative reforms. Concerns are also raised regarding high-profile acquittals in money laundering cases, which cast doubt on the independence of the judiciary and the quality of investigations.
Overall, the findings of the GI-TOC report underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in Montenegro to address the intertwining issues of organized crime, corruption, and political instability.
