SIPA

Today (7/10/2016) police officials of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) completed searches of facilities in 42 locations.

The operations were carried out under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office B&H and in cooperation with the Indirect Taxation Authority B&H with the support of the Brčko District Police, MoI of Republika Srpska, West Herzegovina Canton MoI, Una-Sana Canton MoI, Herzegovina – Neretva Canton MoI and Tuzla Canton MoI due to grounded suspicion that the suspects caused a damage of over ten million BAM to the B&H Budget.

30 individuals were deprived of liberty in these operations and facilities in the area of Bijeljina, Gradačac, Orašje, Brod, Grude, Posušje Mostar, Čitluk, Široki Brijeg, Sanski Most and Travnik were searched due to grounded suspicion of having committed the criminal offence of organised crime in conjunction with criminal offence of illicit trade in excise goods.

During the searches, around 25 tonnes of tobacco, six tobacco - cutting machines, considerable amount of money, weapons, documentation and other items, which may serve as evidence in further proceedings, were found and seized.

The arrested individuals will be subject to criminal processing on the premises of SIPA, after which their status will be decided upon the instructions of the acting prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office B&H.