A court in the Montenegrin town of Kotor has ordered 30 days’ detention for Russian and Israeli citizens Aleksandr and Aleksandra Kruglyansky, who are suspected of smuggling and money laundering.
This is reported by Vijesti, citing the police.
Thirty-one-year-old Aleksandr and 42-year-old Aleksandra Kruglyansky were detained on 23 September at Tivat Airport as they were preparing to fly to Tel Aviv. They had 19 pieces of luggage.
During an inspection, officers found €26,210 and 1,150 Israeli shekels in cash, medicines, as well as a significant amount of undeclared electronics. Among the seized items were a GPS tracker with a microphone, a radio-signal detector, CCTV cameras, storage devices, computer components, cables and other equipment.
According to media reports, some of the equipment could have been used for tracking, surveillance and detecting listening devices.
After the detention, officers searched flats in Budva and Bar for more than 12 hours which, according to the police, were used by the couple.
According to the outlet’s sources, the searches uncovered cash in eight currencies with a total value of about €1m, more than €1,000 in counterfeit notes, as well as additional IT equipment, including gear for tracking and video surveillance.
Montenegro’s National Security Agency and other security bodies, including international partners, have been involved in the investigation.
Despite the nature of the seized equipment, the Kruglyanskys are not currently accused of espionage. They are charged with smuggling and money laundering.
The judge ordered 30 days’ detention for the suspects due to the risk of flight. According to Vijesti, both Kruglyanskys refused to testify.