Operation Charlie: Customs Officers and Freight Company Owners Arrested for Organized Crime

At the order of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH a large-scale operation codenamed "Charlie" is being carried out. Several persons have been brought in, including authorized officials, suspected of illegal activities, reports the Patria agency.

At the order of the prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, since the early morning hours, several dozen police officers of SIPA and employees of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, formed into 7 special investigation teams, are conducting activities in the area of Bihać, Velika Kladuša and surroundings, as part of prosecuting perpetrators of criminal acts of organized crime, related to illegal import, smuggling, document forgery, illegal storage and VAT evasion, which damaged the budget and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Among the suspects who have been brought in are two active employees of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, as well as owners of freight forwarding companies.

The Prosecutor's Office of BiH, together with partner police agencies, is conducting a detailed and extensive investigation, which has gathered evidence that an organized group of perpetrators of natural and legal persons, over a longer period of time, has been carrying out illegal activities related to the import of used cars, spare parts and other goods into Bosnia and Herzegovina, during which VAT and other duties are evaded, causing damage to the state of BiH, the budget and all citizens of our country.

The target of the activities is a total of 7 legal and natural persons. The suspects  will be brought in, and after consultations between the police and the prosecuting prosecutor, a decision will be made on further activities against the suspects.

The Prosecutor's Office of BiH, together with partner police and security agencies, is undertaking intensive activities in the fight against financial crime and tax evasion, as these are criminal acts that cause damage to the financial system and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.