Cantonal Court in Tuzla: Drug Mafia Sentenced to 61 Years in Prison

(Patria) - The Cantonal Court in Tuzla, in criminal proceedings against seven defendants, namely Armin Šabanović and others, has rendered and publicly announced a non-final verdict finding the defendants guilty of committing the criminal offense of "Unauthorized Production and Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs" in conjunction with other criminal offenses as an organized group.

The court imposed prison sentences totaling 61 years for the aforementioned criminal offenses:

• Armin Šabanović a unified prison sentence of 18 years and 4 months;

• Armin Rizvić a unified prison sentence of 17 years and 10 months;

• Dževad Fočić a unified prison sentence of 20 years;

• Rijad Šabanović a prison sentence of 3 years and 10 months; and

• Denis Karić a prison sentence of one year.

The defendants were found guilty of selling and distributing various types of narcotic drugs: amphetamine (speed), MDMA, marijuana, and cocaine to a large number of users over an extended period in the Tuzla Canton and surrounding areas. A significant quantity of drugs was seized from them.

The defendants were also found guilty of the criminal offense of "Violent Behavior," which they committed against users who owed them money for drugs, and for "Money Laundering," as expert examination during the proceedings determined that they spent large sums of money obtained from criminal activities, purchasing real estate and movable property.

The court confiscated the property benefits acquired by the defendants through criminal offenses. In addition to a large amount of cash, passenger motor vehicles were also confiscated and handed over to the Federal Agency for the Management of Confiscated Property.

Defendants Emir Kuduzović and Sanela Šabanović were fully acquitted of the charges, while Denis Karić was found guilty of the criminal offense of "Possession and Facilitation of Drug Use."

Following the pronouncement of the verdict, the pre-trial detention for defendants Armin Šabanović, Armin Rizvić, and Dževad Fočić was extended by court order, which may last for a maximum of nine months from the date of the verdict.

These decisions are not final, as the parties have the right to appeal, the Cantonal Court in Tuzla announced.