Podgorica, (MINA) - The environmental movement has Ozon called on the Government to urgently establish a specialized unit combating eco crime, in order to prevent deliberately set wildfires across Montenegro during the summer months, which cause incalculable environmental and economic damage.

This NGO said that for years they have been warning about the importance of addressing the problem of ecocrime, identifying those responsible and prosecuting perpetrators, as well as determining their motives.

They added that they believe that in most cases the motive is private interest, followed by negligence.

“These days, Montenegro, as well as the entire region, suffers from the consequences of the lack of the institutional defense mechanisms, which is a condition for preventing ecocrime, so creation of a specialized unit within the Police Administration is a requirement for regional cooperation, joint training, cooperation with prosecutorial authorities and the exchange of experiences”, the statement said.

Ozon said that it is necessary to adopt concrete and legally based measures, which will be applicable in practice, as well as regularly involve the public in the fight against ecocrime.