Cetinje: Married couple arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and domestic violence: physically abusing three minors and forcing them into hard physical labor

Officers of the Cetinje Department of Security, in coordination with the Department for Combating Crimes of Human Trafficking, Smuggling People, and Illegal Migration, and upon the order of the state prosecutor at the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica, detained two persons – spouses Š.K. and A.S. in Cetinje. They allegedly used violence against minors, damaging their mental and physical integrity by beating them with fists, wooden objects, and other means, and forcing them through threats to conceal verbal and physical abuse from social workers. It is also suspected that Š.K., when the minor was 12 years old, exploited his labor by forcing him to work in a hospitality establishment in Cetinje, and later in Budva, aiming to gain material benefit of 1,000 euros per month, while depriving him of his right to education. Additionally, Š.K. and his wife allegedly exploited dependency relationships and difficult circumstances to force a 15-year-old minor into forced labor for material gain, while eight- and 13-year-old minors were made to do household chores and care for their grandchildren. Combating human trafficking is a national priority, with a focus on timely recognition, identification, and protection of victims, especially minors as a particularly vulnerable group, as well as uncovering and prosecuting all forms of their exploitation.