Acting on the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, SIPA police officers, in cooperation with the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) of BiH, searched a tank truck inside which they found a larger quantity of about 247 thousand boxes of cigarettes without appropriate excise stamps of BiH, which were smuggled from the territory of Montenegro to the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The estimated value of the seized cigarettes on the market is more than 1.3 million BAM and is one of the largest seizures of illegal cigarettes carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This case is under investigation for the following criminal offences: Organising a group or association for smuggling or distribution of goods on which duties were not paid (Article 215), Illicit trade in excise products (Article 210a) and Smuggling of goods (Article 214) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the search activities, one suspect, the driver of the motor vehicle, was deprived of freedom, and the evidence necessary in the procedure was seized.

The State Investigation and Protection Agency SIPA, ITA BiH, BiH Border Police, RS MoI, Sarajevo Canton MoI, HNK MoI - PD Prozor participated and provided support in the joint operation carried out on the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, together with partner institutions and agencies, is undertaking intensive activities in combating illegalities related to the smuggling and illicit trade in excise products, as criminal offences that cause great damage to the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina.