SIPA

On 25 March 2013, a three-day seminar began at the official premises of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA). Participants are relevant experts form police authorities of the Republic of Italy and members of SIPA. The purpose of the seminar is the exchange of experiences and analysis of previous joint activities in combating organised crime, with particular emphasis on the operation code-named “Bijeli slon”.

The seminar was opened by Mr Anđelko Hrgić, Assistant Director of SIPA, who welcomed the expert team composed of Mr Calcagni Massimiliano Senior Expert at the Department for Organised Crime of EUROPOL, Mr Gallo Antonio Head of Department for Organised Crime from Brescia, as well as Mr Giovanni Santoro and Mr Enrico Sforce Police Liaison Officers at the Italian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on behalf of the Director and his own behalf. While addressing the participants, the Assistant Director pointed out that SIPA had recognised that an efficient combat against organised crime required cooperation, assistance and support of police agencies in the country, as well as police authorities from the countries of the region and beyond. He said that SIPA, although a relatively “young” police agency, already became seriously involved in international cooperation in relation to combating organised crime and pointed out that SIPA’s investigators, along with their colleagues from other countries of the region, were at that moment carrying out joint actions in specific complex cases of organised crime.


 

The experts pointed out that the subject workshop was a part of an extensive project, which was being implemented in Italy in the framework of cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans. Its aim is to extend activities in specific cases with these countries. They particularly emphasised the importance of exchange of experiences with members of SIPA and analysis of previous joint activities, primarily referring to the action code-named “Bijeli slon”, which was carried out by members of SIPA in 2012 in cooperation with Special Department of Criminal Police of the Republic of Italy from Brescia, which resulted in an extensive international operation.