JOINT POLICE OPERATION CODENAMED "BASTION" AIMED AT DETECTING PERSONS SUSPECTED OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN CONNECTION WITH ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN NARCOTIC DRUGS CARRIED OUT PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OF BIH

Acting on orders of the Prosecutor of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption within the Prosecutor's Office of BiH,  officers of RS MoI and the Federation Police Department have carried out coordinated searches and arrests in several towns across the country.

Raids were carried out at several locations in different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and eight persons were deprived of liberty.

While carrying out an investigation into the case codenamed "Bastion" an organized criminal group consisting of citizens of BiH and Croatia was detected. Group members have acquired, intermediated in the acquisition, sale and have otherwise carried out illegal international trafficking of narcotic drugs, primarily heroin and cocaine, with a view of its further sales in the area of the Republic of Croatia and other European countries.

Persons deprived of liberty in this operation are, inter alia, suspected of having acted as an organized criminal group in preparing smaller dose packages of drugs, using certain premises, and of having sold such prepared narcotic drugs to persons from BiH and Croatia.

During the course of the operation significant cooperation was achieved with the institutions of the Republic of Croatia.

Persons deprived of liberty in this operation are suspected of having committed the criminal offense of Organized Crime under Article 250 of the CC BiH in conjunction with the criminal offense of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs under Article 195 of the CC BiH.

The Assigned Prosecutor will question the suspects within the legal deadline and subsequently decide whether to file a motion for remand in custody to the Court of BiH or a motion to order prohibiting measures.