Košarac lobbied, Cvijanović proposed: Member of 'Tito and Dino' drug cartel Fatih Kol appointed honorary BiH consul in Panama!

(Patria) - A member of the Tito and Dino drug cartel was appointed last year as honorary consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Panama, Istraga.ba reports.

It is Turkish citizen Fatih Kol, whom the Presidency of BiH unanimously appointed in October last year as honorary BiH consul in a country known for international money laundering. Kol was appointed on the proposal of BiH Presidency member Željka Cvijanović, and the most lobbying for his appointment was done by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations – Staša Košarac.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office issued an order to conduct an investigation against Fatih Kol on suspicion of laundering money for the drug cartel run from Dubai by Edin Gačanin Tito. Kol, as Istraga.ba learns, was supposed to be arrested together with the heads of the FUP and businessman Gordan Memija as part of the international operation "Black Tie 2." Since Kol was not on the territory of BiH at that time, he could not be arrested. However, his name is listed in the proposal for ordering detention or prohibition measures for members or associates of the Tito and Dino drug cartel.



Fatih Kol – officially under investigation for money laundering of the drug cartel
This is a document from the BiH Prosecutor's Office, i.e., a proposal for ordering detention measures. The list of persons suspected of organized crime and money laundering includes the honorary BiH consul in Panama, Fatih Kol.

According to information from Istraga, Fatih Kol is mentioned in Sky as one of the businessmen who laundered money obtained from cocaine sales. One of his "investments" was the announcement of the construction of a Hilton hotel in Sarajevo, and the previous purchase of real estate from the company Feroelektro. According to information from Sky, Kol received almost seven million marks from the cartel.

According to official information, this associate of Tito was appointed by the BiH Presidency at a session held in October 2023, on the proposal of Željka Cvijanović. Previously, a letter of recommendation for Kol's appointment arrived from Panama, from the president himself.

As stated at the time by Kol's media service, by being appointed honorary consul, he would be a link between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Panama in the fields of economy, tourism, culture, and sports.

Letter from Panamanian authorities

"Given the economic crises that are stifling the European economy and appearing at the regional level, it is planned to connect investors from these two countries to conduct business in new trade zones. In addition, an organization is planned that will provide opportunities for mutual investment, as well as strengthening relations in the fields of economy, investment, tourism, culture, and sports," was announced from Kol's press service.

The honorary BiH consul presented his credentials to the authorities in Panama in December 2023.
Honorary consul and member of the drug cartel presents credentials in Panama

According to information from Istraga, the cooperation of BiH authorities with Kol has been ongoing for years. However, Kol had the best connections with Staša Košarac, the state minister of foreign trade and economic relations. Even before Kol was appointed honorary BiH consul, Košarac visited him in Panama.

"The Minister of Foreign Trade of BiH, Staša Košarac, was on an official visit to Panama where he met with representatives of the government, the business sector, and public and private institutions," was announced in September 2022 from Košarac's cabinet.

At that time, it was also announced that "this trade-diplomatic meeting was organized by the Business Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, chaired by businessman Fatih Kol."



"It was an excellent visit by Minister Košarac, which opened an important path towards strengthening diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries. For our association, this represents the first step towards continuing joint work. There are many things that unite us," said Kol.

As stated, the delegation expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities in Panama in various areas such as energy, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and construction.

"During the visit, Minister Košarac emphasized the virtues and advantages of Panama as an important hub and future choice for investment in various sectors. The Association of BiH Entrepreneurs in Panama has been forming for a year and is committed to becoming an important bridge for people-to-people relations, and the official visit of the Minister of Trade will enable the continuation of organizing high-level meetings," concluded Fatih Kol.

Before connecting with Minister Košarac, Kol "attempted" to invest in Sarajevo. Just before the arrival of Edin Gačanin Tito in Sarajevo, businessman Fatih Kol signed a contract in July 2016 with the then-mayor of the Stari Grad municipality, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić. The contract concerned the sale, i.e., purchase, of real estate that once belonged to Feroelektro.

Fatih Kol and Ibrahim Hadžibajrić

The Stari Grad municipality sold its 65 percent share of the former Feroelektro building at 16 Mula Mustafe Bašeskije Street in Sarajevo to the company KOL d.o.o. Sarajevo. The purchase agreement was signed on July 8 by Stari Grad mayor Ibrahim Hadžibajrić and Fatih Kol, owner of the company KOL. Previously, the Stari Grad Municipal Council adopted a conclusion to resolve the status of this building by selling the municipal part of the building to KOL d.o.o., by right of pre-emptive purchase, for three million KM.

At that time, it was announced that in September 2016, Kol's company would begin construction of a luxury Hilton hotel on the site of the former Feroelektro building, which was supposed to be built in 18 months.

A year earlier, in 2015, Kol's company KOL d.o.o. Sarajevo had revenue of one million marks and reported a profit of 747 thousand KM. In comparison, in 2014, revenue was – zero marks, as was the case a year later. Additionally, in 2016, Kol's company revenue was zero marks, while in 2018, revenue was only 1,400 KM.

Let us recall, the former mayor of Stari Grad municipality, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, is charged with organized crime and is currently in custody. Sky correspondence revealed that he collaborated with members of Edin Gačanin Tito's drug cartel.

Edin Gačanin Tito is the leader of one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world. He is currently in Dubai awaiting the "execution" of a seven-year prison sentence imposed by the Dutch judiciary.