Koprivica with the new British ambassador: Montenegro and the UK jointly strengthen the rule of law and fight against organized crime and corruption

Vice President Koprivica welcomed Ambassador Jones and congratulated her on assuming office, expressing confidence that her engagement will contribute significantly to the further development of traditionally good and friendly relations, as well as the alliance between Montenegro and the United Kingdom. In this context, Ambassador Jones highlighted the successful joint activities related to the inventory and destruction of seized smuggled tobacco, viewing them as an important example of concrete and effective international cooperation in the fight against organized crime. Koprivica emphasized that the credible inventory and subsequent destruction of 138,000 packs of seized tobacco, with operational and legal support from HMRC, are the best confirmation of trust, efficient cooperation, and a shared commitment to combating organized crime and illegal flows. The credible inventory and destruction of 138,000 packs of seized smuggled tobacco demonstrated that Montenegro and its partners can carry out complex operations together and send a clear message that there is no room for organized crime. In this regard, he noted that new anti-corruption legislation has been adopted, capacities of the Special State Prosecutor's Office have been further strengthened, a new criminal offense of illegal enrichment of public officials has been introduced, and a comprehensive new Law on the confiscation of assets gained through criminal activity has been enacted. The interlocutors assessed that the existing cooperation between Montenegro and the United Kingdom provides a strong foundation for continued joint work, especially in the areas of fighting corruption, organized crime, smuggling, strengthening institutional integrity, financial investigations, and advancing the rule of law.