Montenegro Police Arrest 25 People In Drug Bust

Both countries have stepped up border security and the joint activities of law enforcement agencies in the last few months.

Montenegro police arrested 25 people suspected of smuggling tonnes of marijuana from Albania, an official said on Friday, in the latest big drug bust as the two countries clamp down on crime in their bid to join the EU.

Both countries have stepped up border security and the joint activities of law enforcement agencies in the last few months.

Media reports on Friday said a police officer and a low ranking government official were among those arrested in the biggest single drug bust in the Balkan country since December.

The suspects, belonging to seven crime clans, smuggled 2.5 tonnes of "extra strong marijuana also known as skunk" from Albania via Montenegro to neighbouring Serbia and Bosnia, police spokeswoman Tamara Popovic said.

Popovic said in a joint action, Albanian police recently arrested another six people in connection with the case. She did not elaborate further.

In December Montenegrin law enforcement agencies arrested 19 people and seized some 550 kg of narcotics.

The mountainous border between Montenegro and neighbouring Albania is frequently used for trafficking drugs, weapons and people.