Slovenian, Croatian citizens used fake military identity to avoid fees at Brijuni

A vessel operating in Croatian waters near the Brijuni National Park was intercepted after falsely claiming to be a ship of the Croatian Navy, according to the portal morski.hr.

The incident occurred while the chief state prosecutor, Ivan Turudić, was reportedly on Brijuni, leading to heightened security measures in the area. A group of Slovenian and Croatian citizens on board the vessel allegedly attempted to circumvent security protocols and avoid financial obligations by using a fabricated military identity.

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Even more surprisingly, this vessel has been operating in the Istrian waters for about ten years, and was once moored in Pula, even in the military port of Vardarola.

Sources indicate that this particular vessel has been operating in the Istrian waters for approximately ten years and was once moored in the military port of Pula. The portal morski.hr also suggests the ship is mentioned in the infamous Epstein documents. The crew systematically misrepresented themselves as official personnel and a delegation of the Croatian Army, asserting that their vessel was an official military ship.

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The purpose of this unusual deception was simple – to avoid mandatory identification and payment of port fees, moorings, and entrance fees to the port authority of Pula, which is responsible for moorings in Brijuni and Fažana.

The primary motive behind this elaborate deception was to bypass mandatory identification procedures and avoid paying port fees, mooring charges, and entrance fees to the Port Authority of Pula, which manages the berths at Brijuni and Fažana. Upon inspection, the vessel lacked any visible official registration markings, displaying a false military insignia on its bow instead of legally required identification numbers.

Contrary to its military facade, the vessel is a private boat belonging to the company Olimp Defense Group, owned by Mladen Miljanić, a Slovenian bus operator and retired member of the Croatian Army. The vessel was reportedly operated by a Slovenian citizen known to security services due to a criminal record, which had previously caused a Croatian Ministry of Interior tender for police boats to fail. Maritime police, coast guard, and military personnel intercepted the vessel near the protected area. While official statements confirm an ongoing procedure, unofficial reports suggest the crew was fined 1,000 euros and faces further investigation.

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The procedure is still ongoing.