SIPA

On 15 March 2013, in view of a joint police operation code-named “Bela” carried out by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the Republic of Croatia Ministry of Interior, which cut off an international drug smuggling channel, a press conference was held in Zagreb.

In addition to members of USKOK, Republic of Croatia Ministry of Interior Police Directorate and Zagreb Police Administration, Mr Anđelko Hrgić, Assistant Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), also attended the press conference. The Assistant Director of SIPA expressed gratitude to the Croatian Police for exceptional cooperation and prompt exchange of information and intelligence, which resulted in cutting off this criminal group. The group obtained the narcotics in Albania and Macedonia for the purpose of further smuggling into Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
 

During the operation on 11 and 12 March, after an armed conflict between members of the organised criminal group, members of SIPA arrested six individuals and found 22 kg of marijuana in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 13 and 14 March, in a continuation of these activities in Zagreb, members of the Republic of Croatia Ministry of Interior arrested another four suspects, also BH citizens, and seized 17.9 kg of marijuana and more than HRK 50.000, suspected to originate from trafficking in narcotics.
 

In the framework of the action code-named “Bela”, a total of 10 citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina were arrested, including one woman, and a total of 40 kg of marijuana, XTC pills, short-barrelled semi automatic rifle, HRK 41.700, EUR 1.710, BAM 1.500 and USD 275, digital scale, ten mobile telephones, laptop and various other material was seized. The estimated value of the seized drugs in the illegal drug market is circa BAM 180.000, and in street sale its value could be even higher.

Members of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office BH continue activities in this case in their full capacity, on grounds of suspicion that this criminal group committed the criminal offence of organised crime in conjunction with the criminal offence of illicit trafficking in narcotics.

On 16 March 2013, acting upon orders from the Court BH, members of the State Investigation and Protection Agency carried out searches at three locations in Zenica and one search in the area of Vlašić. During the searches, evidential material was found indicating the perpetration of the criminal offences.
Two more individuals are being searched for in relation to this criminal group.
The public will be informed about further activities in this case in due time.