Operation "Leaf": Searches of facilities in several cities, tobacco smugglers being arrested

Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) began early this morning an operation codenamed „Leaf“, carried out in cooperation with members of the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina (UIO) due to organized crime, reports the Patria news agency.

Searches are underway at several dozen locations in the municipalities of Široki Brijeg, Posušje, Šamac, Brčko District, Grude, Maglaj, Bijeljina, Mostar, Ljubuški and Ljubinje due to reasonable suspicion of committing the criminal offense of organized crime in connection with tax evasion or fraud, abuse of position or authority, receiving bribes and other forms of benefits, and giving bribes and other forms of benefits.

Members of the organized criminal group are linked to the smuggling of high-tariff goods into Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e., the illegal trade of leaf tobacco and cut tobacco.     

They are suspected of having, between March and July 2015, illegally placed on the BiH market cut tobacco in quantities exceeding 220 tons with the aim of obtaining unlawful property gain, thereby damaging the BiH Budget by more than 18 million KM.

 The activities are being carried out pursuant to orders from the Court of BiH and the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, and more information will be announced during the day.