New shock in Montenegro: a double mafia murder in broad daylight shakes the country. The authorities on red alert promise a strong response, but the population is worried about the rise in violence linked to organized crime. How far will this clan war go?
Montenegro is once again in shock after a double murder in broad daylight on the streets of the capital, Podgorica. On Wednesday afternoon, two people were shot dead in their vehicle by attackers armed with automatic weapons. According to the authorities, this is the third mafia settling of scores in less than six months in the country.
The victims, whose identities have not been revealed, are believed to be members of organized crime, according to police. More than 30 shell casings were found at the scene of the shooting, testifying to the violence of the attack. The perpetrators of the crime are still at large and actively sought.
Authorities promise a strong response
Faced with this new bloody episode, the highest authorities in the country reacted immediately. Prime Minister Milojko Spajic urgently convened the National Security Council, while President Jakov Milatovic demanded a muscular police response to stem the violence.
The growing clashes between criminal groups are a red alert, and show that a stronger response from relevant authorities is needed to put an end to them.
said President Jakov Milatovic
But despite recurring promises from the authorities to tackle organized crime, score-settling continues to punctuate the news in this small Balkan country of 630,000 inhabitants. Last June, an explosion in Cetinje had already left two people dead and three injured, including suspected gang members.
A clan war that has lasted for years
According to investigators, this series of murders is linked to the conflict which has opposed two rival mafia clans since 2014: the “skaljari” and the “kavaci”. Coming from the same town of Kotor, they previously belonged to the same criminal organization before falling apart following the disappearance of 300 kilos of cocaine in Spain.
Since then, their bloody rivalry has left around sixty people dead across Europe. At the end of September, a member of the “skaljari” clan had already been shot dead by sniper fire while sitting in his garden in Cetinje.
Organized crime, a scourge for Montenegro and its European ambition
Beyond the spectacular settling of scores, organized crime and corruption deeply plague Montenegro. A scourge which taints the country’s efforts to join the European Union, a major objective for this small state.
Despite repeated promises from successive governments, the fight against mafias remains a major challenge. The porosity between criminal, political and economic environments complicates the task of the authorities and profound reforms are necessary.
These new mafia murders are a stark reminder of the hold criminal clans have over Montenegro. They are once again putting pressure on the authorities to act quickly and strongly. The population is worried about an uncontrolled escalation of violence and hopes for tangible results in the fight against organized crime. The country’s European future depends on it.
