EUROPOL on TITO GAČANIN's cartel and action in BiH: The goal was to dismantle his criminal organization

(Patria) - In connection with the continuation of the activities of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, in the coming hours, the acting prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, in coordination with police agencies, will, within the legal deadline, examine the suspects who were deprived of liberty in the "Black tie 2" operation, after which a decision will be made on the proposal for detention or prohibition measures for the suspects, which will be forwarded to the Court of BiH.

The Prosecutor's Office of BiH also forwarded Europol's statement regarding this operation.

In a large-scale raid conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, law enforcement officers raided the homes and offices of 23 individuals suspected of being part of the 'inner circle' of a drug lord arrested in November 2022. Europol supported yesterday's operation, which serves as another milestone in the fight against the so-called 'super cartel', an alliance of criminal networks that controlled a significant portion of Europe's cocaine trade.

As in the 'Desert Light' operation, several partners from around the world collaborated to deliver another major blow to this criminal structure. Officers active on the ground, joined by Europol experts, as well as agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), searched over 40 locations.

The primary objective of the operation codenamed “Black Tie” was to indict and prosecute a Bosnian-Herzegovinian/Dutch national whom Europol and the Netherlands consider a High-Value Target. The suspect was sentenced to seven years in prison by Dutch authorities in 2023 for drug trafficking.

The second operational objective was to dismantle the entire criminal organization under the command and control of the High-Value Target. This joint international investigation involved Belgian, Bosnian-Herzegovinian, French, and U.S. law enforcement agencies, with the support of Europol.

Despite his arrest in November 2022, the investigation showed that the High-Value Target continued to direct drug trafficking from source countries in South America, such as Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, to Europe and Australia from his base in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. By collaborating with other top international drug traffickers in Dubai, with whom he jointly invested in multi-ton cocaine smuggling ventures, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian/Dutch national became a powerful figure controlling a massive supply of cocaine to Europe and other destinations. Furthermore, the High-Value Target is also suspected of being responsible for the production of synthetic drugs in the EU.

Targeting the drug lord's 'inner circle'

Among the 23 individuals arrested yesterday were not only accomplices but also corrupt officials identified as facilitators of the network's criminal activities. In anticipation of this operation, BiH authorities had already arrested two suspects and seized 55,000 euros in cash, 8 firearms, 11 police radios, and money laundering documentation. On the day of the operation, law enforcement agencies further seized cash, cars, laptops, and collected other evidence.

Europol's Public Information

Following a request for information received in June 2023 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europol supported BiH authorities in the investigation against the close circle or 'inner circle' of trusted members of the High-Value Target's criminal organization. Among other criminal offenses, the case in the domestic judiciary focused on serious crimes such as large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related organized crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Europol's Role

Europol deployed two experts with mobile offices to Bosnia and Herzegovina to collect and cross-check intelligence and assist in further coordinating activities. In addition to the support that led to yesterday's operation, Europol supported the entire investigation with intelligence and coordination. Since the beginning of 2021, Europol experts have produced and shared over 30 intelligence packages related to the High-Value Target and its criminal network.

Law Enforcement Agencies Involved:
Belgium: Federal Judicial Police Antwerp (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie Antwerpen)
France: National Police (Police Nationale - Office anti-stupéfiants (OFAST))
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton, Police of Sarajevo Canton)
United States: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Agencies Involved: Europol