Montenegrin citizen Miljan Mandrapa was arrested on suspicion of belonging to a criminal organization that smuggled marijuana from Montenegro to Croatia.[1] The Special State Prosecutor’s Office said MM was arrested after months of planning through coordinated action by the SDT, the Special Police Department, Croatia’s USKOK and Interior Ministry, and officers from the Criminal Police Sector and Herceg Novi Security Department.[1] Members of the Special Police Department handcuffed him on the SDT’s order, as announced by SDT spokesman Vukas Radonjić.[1] The arrested man was brought to the SDT and then detained for up to 72 hours.[1] A joint police-prosecution operation in Croatia and Montenegro arrested two people suspected of obtaining and reselling at least 250 kilograms of marijuana worth about 600,000 euros as part of a criminal association.[2] The months-long investigation ended that week with the arrest of a 25-year-old in the Dubrovnik area and a 27-year-old in Montenegro.[2] The man arrested in Croatia was questioned by USKOK and brought before an investigative judge of the Split County Court to decide on detention.[2]

Prosecutors suspect the 25-year-old and the 27-year-old joined with other people from 27 December 2022 to 14 March 2023 to obtain and resell larger quantities of marijuana using specially obtained phones, apps and encrypted communication.[2] The 27-year-old Montenegrin allegedly organized procurement and transport of larger marijuana quantities while the 25-year-old organized takeover, storage and transport to buyers in Croatia.[2] The marijuana was smuggled by boat by sea from Montenegro to Croatia, then hidden and transported on to buyers.[2] USKOK states that an unknown quantity was smuggled into Croatia on three occasions while police seized 250 kilograms smuggled in this way on two occasions.[2] The SDT investigation says the group moved at least 250 kilograms of marijuana by sea from Montenegro to Croatia and then by passenger vehicles on Croatian territory.[1]

Before the arrest, officers searched apartments and other premises used by MM in Herceg Novi and found traces of the offence and items usable in proceedings.[1] Montenegrin citizens RV and FR had earlier been detained in Croatia and sentenced to prison terms, while proceedings against Croatian citizen JB were initiated there by USKOK.[1] A same-event account dated 16 April said a 25-year-old Croatian and a 27-year-old Montenegrin were arrested the previous day and described at least 305 kilograms worth at least 600,000 euros.[3]