SIPA

On 27 February 2014, acting upon orders by the Court BH and Prosecutor’s Office BH, within “Road” operation police officials of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), arrested six indiiduals in Tuzla Canton for migrant smuggling. Searches for two individuals were continued.

The individuals E.M. (DOB 1977), E.M. (DOB 1992), N.S. (DOB 1969), Z.O. (DOB 1969), S.M. (DOB 1989) and D.Ž. (DOB 1975) were arrested due to grounds for suspicion of having committed the criminal offences set out in Article 250 of CC BH “Organised Crime”, in conjunction with the criminal offence set out in Article 189a of the Law on Amendments to the CC BH” “Organising a Group or Association for Purpose of Perpetration of Criminal Offences of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants” and criminal offence set out in Article 189 of CC BH “Smuggling of Persons”.

These individuals are suspected of illegally transporting at least 11 Turkish nationals from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Federal Republic of Germany from September to November 2012, and acquired unlawful material gain in the amount of EUR 20.000.

Buildings at 11 locations in Tuzla Canton and Pelagićevo were searched during this operation with the aim of finding items that might be used as evidence in further proceedings. During the searches, a number of mobile telephones, SIM cards, various registers, notes, money transfer receipts and other items were found and seized.

These activities were carried out with the assistance from members of the Tuzla Canton Ministry of Interior and Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior.

The arrested individuals were brought to the official premises of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, Tuzla Regional Office where they were criminally processed, whereupon in line with instructions from the acting Prosecutor, their status would be determined.