As part of its efforts to strength national capacities to more effectively combat the trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons, conventional ammunition, and explosives, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided the Border Police and the Special Police units with four specialized K9 vehicles. A ceremonial handover of four specialized K9 Opel Combo vehicles, with a total value of around 120,000 euros, was organized in the Training Center of the Special Police Unit on 10 July.
Designed primarily with the welfare and safety of service dogs in mind, the vehicles will ensure secure, comfortable, and efficient transportation in line with international standards. Each vehicle is equipped with two transport boxes, which can be transformed into four compartments to accommodate dogs of different sizes, as well as dedicated space for storing food, equipment, and other essential items.
The vehicles are fitted with an integrated ventilation system and air conditioning specifically designed to maintain optimal conditions for the dogs during both transportation and operational deployment, including extended periods of duty at border crossing points. The front section of each vehicles features custom-built benches that provide a resting area for handlers, while the interior also offers dedicated storage space for handlers' equipment.
Following the official handover of the vehicles, Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Jan Haukaas, stated that the delivery was particularly timely in light of the busy summer tourist season and high temperatures. "As Montenegro marks the 20th anniversary of its independence and the Mission marks 20 years of partnership with the country, I am proud that today's handover strengthens our already strong and longstanding co-operation with the Ministry of Interior and the Police Directorate. I am confident that the vehicles will further strengthen the operational capacities of the K9 units by improving the safe and efficient transport of service dogs, both during the summer period and in their day-to-day work in the years to come," said Ambassador Haukaas.
Acting Assistant Director of the Police Directorate for the Border Police Sector, Dejan Bojić, expressed his gratitude to the OSCE Mission for recognizing the importance of continuously strengthening the capacity of the K9 unit of the Border Police Sector. "We express our special gratitude for the donation of specialized vehicles for the transport of service dogs, which will significantly improve the operational capacities of our K9 unit. These vehicles will contribute to the more efficient engagement of service dogs in detecting and suppressing all forms of cross-border crime, including illegal trade and irregular migration, and further improve the results we achieve in protecting the state border," Bojić pointed out.
Assistant Commander of the Special Police Unit, Chief Police Inspector Zoran Šaranović pointed out that the donation represents a significant contribution to the further improvement of the capacity of the K9 unit. "The Special Police Unit received two modern, air-conditioned vehicles for the safe transport of officers and service dogs, equipped in accordance with the highest standards of their well-being. This donation represents a continuation of the successful co-operation with the OSCE Mission, which previously supported the Special Police Unit through the international training of our service dog handlers," said Šaranović. He pointed out that a group of service dog guides carry out high-risk tasks in the fight against organized crime on a daily basis, including the detection of narcotics, weapons and explosives. "The new vehicles will significantly improve operational capacities in the field, with the aim of preserving a safe environment and further strengthening the trust of citizens," Šaranović pointed out.
The provision of the K9 vehicles was carried out under the Mission's extra-budgetary project, Strengthening the capacities of the Montenegrin Ministry of Interior to more effectively reduce, prevent, and counter illicit trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons, ammunition and explosives. Running from April 2025 to December 2028, the project aims to strengthen the Ministry of Interior's capacity to detect illicit weapons, ammunition and explosives through enhanced K9 capabilities, while also improving Montenegro's firearms deactivation system by supporting the development and implementation of a comprehensive legal framework and building the institutional capacities needed for its effective application.
