Operation codenamed "Kavala" was carried out this morning at 6 a.m. pursuant to the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH. Those targeted in the operation are 13 suspects from several towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Banja Luka, Zenica, Tuzla, Lukavac, Banovići, Bijeljina and Derventa.

Along with deprivations of liberty, searches of the buildings and vehicles are being carried out in these locations in order to collect evidence of the committed criminal offenses.

The Assigned Prosecutor is coordinating the work of the police forces included in the operation - RS MoI, Federation Police Department and police forces from the Federation BiH, on the locations where the arrests and searches are taking place.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH has collected evidence indicating that several persons are acting as an interconnected inter-entity criminal group dealing with serious crimes, including thefts of expensive motor vehicles in BiH and abroad, falsification of documents, smuggling and resale of stolen vehicles, as well as crimes of fraud, soliciting certification of false contents, as well as producing and procuring weapons and funds to carry out criminal offenses.

Following the arrest the suspects will be brought for questioning with the Assigned Prosecutor who will subsequently decide whether to file a motion for remand in custody or a motion for order of prohibiting measures in accordance with the law.

During the course of this operation the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH achieved significant international cooperation with Slovenia, Germany and Italy, as well as other countries, because it was determined that this organized criminal group, consisting of persons with criminal records and prior convictions, worked on the territory of several EU countries.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH continues its resolute fight against organized crime, together with BiH and international police agencies, aiming to entrench the rule of law and to protect the security of its citizens and their property.