ON ORDER OF BIH PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, OPERATION UNDERWAY TO FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME RELATED TO ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN NARCOTIC DRUGS AND WEAPONS

Prosecutors from the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption are in the field, coordinating the work of authorized police officers.

Dozens of police officers from the Republika Srpska Ministry of the Interior are taking part in this operation. Arrests and searches are being carried out at several locations, in the area of ​​Foča and in Herzegovina.

This operation is aimed at persons suspected of committing, for a longer period of time, criminal offences of organized crime related to smuggling and illicit trafficking of large quantities of narcotics, referred to in Article 195 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as illicit trafficking in arms and military equipment and products of dual use, referred to in Article 193 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The evidence collected indicates that the investigated suspects are linked with organized criminal groups from the countries of the region.

This operation is targeting a large number of suspects, who are under investigation and are suspected of having had divided roles in committing serious criminal offences, as well as of having acquired large amount of unlawful material gain.

During this operation, a larger amount of narcotic drug was seized, and special equipment intended for the production of narcotics was also seized in the area of Foča.

These activities represent the continuation of the resolute fight against organized drug crime structures which operate in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the countries of the region.  In this operation, significant international cooperation has been achieved. Among the suspects, there are also authorized officials, who are suspected of providing support to members of organized criminal groups.

In the interest of the investigation, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot provide more details at this time, and more information will be available in the coming days.