Q:
A:
Police ready to confiscate assets obtained through crime
Belgrade,
28 February 2009
Director of Police at the Serbian Ministry of the Interior Milorad Veljovic said today that the government is determined to deal with crime, which will become evident when the new law on confiscation of assets obtained through crime comes into force on March 2.
File photo of Milorad Veljovic
Author:
Tanjug
In an interview with Beta news agency, Veljovic said that a financial investigation unit is being formed which will play a key role in the state’s efforts to fight crime.
He explained that the unit will work on orders from the public prosecutor’s office and will identify and make records of assets obtained through organized crime, stressing that the unit will consist of highly trained experts who must be supported by the state.
Veljovic said that the unit may include personnel from the tax police, customs administration and the department for the prevention of money laundering.
He said that creating conditions for the confiscation of assets obtained through crime is the best way to deal with crime.
Speaking about crime in Serbia, the Police Director said that most of the organized criminal groups are drug traffickers and they invest some of the money earned into real estate.
An analysis of organized criminal groups was carried out in order to monitor the security situation in the country, said Veljovic. He said that Serbia will not be able to avoid the effects of the global economic crisis and the crime rate becomes higher in times of crisis. However, he stressed that the police are ready to fight against crime.
He reiterated that the police alone cannot control deal with organized crime and cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the prosecutor’s office and the courts is necessary, adding that it is a good thing that “politics is removed from the police”.
Veljovic said that the police force has the support of the President, the government and the Interior Minister in the fight against organized and other crime, adding that the police will also deal with crime within police departments.
Speaking about Kosovo, he said that the southern province is a “hotbed of crime when it comes to narcotics” and that the drugs smuggled through Serbia mostly come from Kosovo.
He said that this is a huge problem for Serbia and the international forces in Kosovo, while other big problems in the province are also human trafficking and prostitution.
He said that these problems must be dealt with, adding that the Serbian police, through their headquarters in Kursumlija, cooperate exclusively with international forces in Kosovo.
He said that cooperation is good but there is scope to improve it and make it more concrete.
Speaking about the capacity of the international forces to fight against crime in the current situation, the Police Director said that they must show more willingness and courage in that respect.
Police forces on all sides are aware of this, we exchange information daily and we are also provided with data on crimes in Kosovo, said Veljovic.
He said that police units at the administrative border with Kosovo are capable of dealing with any challenge and the border is safe.
He explained that the unit will work on orders from the public prosecutor’s office and will identify and make records of assets obtained through organized crime, stressing that the unit will consist of highly trained experts who must be supported by the state.
Veljovic said that the unit may include personnel from the tax police, customs administration and the department for the prevention of money laundering.
He said that creating conditions for the confiscation of assets obtained through crime is the best way to deal with crime.
Speaking about crime in Serbia, the Police Director said that most of the organized criminal groups are drug traffickers and they invest some of the money earned into real estate.
An analysis of organized criminal groups was carried out in order to monitor the security situation in the country, said Veljovic. He said that Serbia will not be able to avoid the effects of the global economic crisis and the crime rate becomes higher in times of crisis. However, he stressed that the police are ready to fight against crime.
He reiterated that the police alone cannot control deal with organized crime and cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, the prosecutor’s office and the courts is necessary, adding that it is a good thing that “politics is removed from the police”.
Veljovic said that the police force has the support of the President, the government and the Interior Minister in the fight against organized and other crime, adding that the police will also deal with crime within police departments.
Speaking about Kosovo, he said that the southern province is a “hotbed of crime when it comes to narcotics” and that the drugs smuggled through Serbia mostly come from Kosovo.
He said that this is a huge problem for Serbia and the international forces in Kosovo, while other big problems in the province are also human trafficking and prostitution.
He said that these problems must be dealt with, adding that the Serbian police, through their headquarters in Kursumlija, cooperate exclusively with international forces in Kosovo.
He said that cooperation is good but there is scope to improve it and make it more concrete.
Speaking about the capacity of the international forces to fight against crime in the current situation, the Police Director said that they must show more willingness and courage in that respect.
Police forces on all sides are aware of this, we exchange information daily and we are also provided with data on crimes in Kosovo, said Veljovic.
He said that police units at the administrative border with Kosovo are capable of dealing with any challenge and the border is safe.
-
Belgrade, 29 October 2024State moves to minimise advertising for betting shops
-
Belgrade/Berlin, 28 January 2016Fences cannot stop migrations
-
Belgrade, 7 January 2016Serbia to experience dynamic economic growth in 2016
-
Belgrade, 31 December 2015Serbia will persevere on path of development, reforms
-
Belgrade, 30 December 2015Ground for Serbia’s progress set
-
Belgrade, 28 December 2015
Serbia ready for improvement of cooperation with Russia
-
Belgrade, 22 December 2015Serbia ready to open six more chapters next year
-
Belgrade, 21 December 2015Serbia to be part of EU by 2020
-
Belgrade, 20 December 2015Serbia ready for EU membership by 2019
-
Belgrade, 16 December 2015Chapter 35 not substitute for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue