BY ORDER OF THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF BIH OPERATION "MASK" WAS CARRIED OUT

Acting on the orders of the Prosecutor of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption within the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, police officers of the RS MoI conducted activities on detection and apprehension of 17 persons in two cases related to trafficking in narcotic drugs and cigarette smuggling.

Eight suspects, including two policemen were apprehended within the scope of the first case. A police officer was arrested in the Republic of Croatia earlier in the context of the aforementioned case and pursuant to the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH during drug trafficking from BiH to the Republic of Croatia.

Certain amounts of narcotic drugs were seized on several occasions in the territory of the Republic of Croatia i.e. 2 kilograms of narcotic drug Marijuana - Skunk and 7 grams of Cocaine.

Within the scope of the case concerning cigarette smuggling 9 persons were apprehended while three persons remain on the run.

During the searches a certain quantity of weapons was found as well as about 1,750 cartons of cigarettes and other items that may serve as evidence in the ongoing investigation.

Along with activities in BiH, the Croatian police has deprived 7 persons of liberty - members of the suspected groups who have smuggled drugs from Bosnia and Herzegovina and resold it in the Dubrovnik area.

All the suspects will be questioned by the investigation team of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption within the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, headed by the Assigned Prosecutor who is currently in PSC Trebinje and then a decision will be made whether to file a motion for remand in custody of the arrested persons or a motion for order of prohibiting measures.

This operation is the result of international and regional cooperation of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and BiH police with judicial and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Croatia.