During the first half of 2026, the Operational Team for Combating Environmental Crime and Criminal Offences Related to Environmental Crime carried out intensive activities aimed at improving coordination among the competent institutions and enhancing the efficiency of action in environmental crime cases.
During the reporting period, several meetings were held with representatives of the police, inspection authorities and other competent institutions, with the aim of taking concrete steps that would contribute to resolving problems encountered in practice.
With a view to concluding the procedure for resolving the conflict of jurisdiction between the competent inspection authorities, the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office sent a letter to the Government of Montenegro, which is undertaking activities in this regard. This contributes to establishing clear and uniform practices in the work of the competent authorities.
At its meetings, the Operational Team also considered certain amendments to the legislative framework that would contribute to combating environmental crime in the area of illegal construction.
Particularly encouraging are the results achieved in combating the illegal exploitation of gravel, which was one of the priorities in the work of the Operational Team. During 2025, criminal complaints were filed against 13 persons, of which complaints against three persons (23.8%) were resolved. In the first half of 2026 alone, 80% of the complaints filed were resolved, with complaints filed against four natural persons, one legal entity, and the responsible person within that legal entity. These figures clearly demonstrate that the activities of the Operational Team related to inter-institutional coordination and the application of legal provisions concerning the seizure of machinery have produced concrete results in this area.
An analysis of environmental crime cases currently being handled established that more than 70% of the cases were initiated due to illegal construction and illegal logging. Accordingly, these cases will be a focus of the Operational Team’s work in the coming period.
The Operational Team will continue implementing coordinated activities, with a particular focus on strengthening institutional cooperation and achieving concrete results in combating environmental crime and protecting the environment.