SIPA operation in Bihać area: Four Pakistanis and two BiH citizens arrested for migrant smuggling

(Patria) - Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) on Monday, acting on the order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, searched residential, auxiliary facilities, and movable property at three locations in the Bihać area.

During the searches, items that could serve as evidence of the criminal offenses of "Human Smuggling" and "Organizing a group or association for the commission of the criminal offense of 'migrant smuggling'" prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina were discovered and temporarily confiscated.

Six persons were arrested, of which four are citizens of Pakistan, and two are citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After criminal processing and questioning as suspects, the arrested persons were handed over to the further jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The citizens of Pakistan will be handed over to the jurisdiction of the Service for Affairs with Foreigners within the legal deadline.

During the search at one of the locations, 50 migrants of various nationalities were found, whom the mentioned group intended to smuggle into the territory of the Republic of Croatia. So far, it has been determined that the mentioned group has smuggled over 300 migrants in the last month.

Efforts are also underway to determine the total number of smuggled persons that the apprehended individuals have smuggled in previous months, which is presumed to be many times higher.

The operational action "Vega" was carried out in cooperation with police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Una-Sana Canton and officers of the Service for Affairs with Foreigners.