Montenegro takes historic step in fight against organised crime and corruption with Anti-Mafia Law

With the adoption of the Anti-Mafia Law, Montenegro has taken a historic step in the fight against organised crime and corruption, because crime and corruption will no longer be a path to wealth that remains protected and in the hands of those who acquired it unlawfully.

The essence of the Law is clear: unlawfully acquired assets must be confiscated, while the State is gaining stronger mechanisms to deprive criminals of the economic benefits of their activities. It is particularly significant that, under clearly prescribed conditions and subject to judicial oversight, the Law enables the permanent confiscation of such assets even before a final judgment is issued in organised crime cases. The burden of proof lies with the owner, who must demonstrate the plausibility of the lawful origin of the assets.

In this way, we are sending a clear message that crime will never again be a business model and that unlawfully acquired wealth cannot be hidden and preserved. The adoption of the Anti-Mafia Law has already sent shockwaves through criminal circles, as it is clear that Montenegro is irreversibly putting an end to a time when crime paid off and unlawfully acquired wealth could be preserved.

This is also an important step forward on Montenegro’s European path, and the competent institutions now have the most effective mechanism at their disposal. The adoption of the Anti-Mafia Law demonstrates, among other things, the highly productive and responsible work of the Ministry of Justice, as well as the fulfilment of one of the key commitments made by the 44th Government to citizens upon its formation, in light of their decades-long expectations and our society’s need for justice.

It is particularly important to add that the Law on Prevention of Corruption, adopted at the end of July this year, established for the first time a mechanism for comparing the declared income and assets of public officials, including former officials, with a mechanism for verifying the legality of the grounds on which property and income were acquired. This allows for a reliable assessment of the origin of assets and demonstrates that we have established a strong and comprehensive framework for examining the origin of wealth, so that no one can retain what they have unlawfully appropriated and acquired. This is a prerequisite for justice and a fundamental need of our society.