Kovačević: UIO BiH officials arrested will be suspended if detention is ordered

Border Police officers have been conducting an operation against organized crime in the Herzegovina region since this morning, FTV reported, according to the Patria News Agency.

Following an order from the BiH Prosecutor's Office, in the operation "Tref 2" (Tref 2), 12 people have been arrested so far, including 4 border police officers and two officials from the Indirect Taxation Authority. Searches are underway, and as Ratko Kovačević, spokesperson for the ITA, told Patria, the institution will not reveal further information until the BiH Prosecutor's Office completes its part.

- In the mentioned operation, among others, two customs officers of the Indirect Taxation Authority employed at the Orahovlje Customs Office were apprehended. At this moment, we do not wish to mention any names, but will wait for the BiH Prosecutor's Office to complete its part of the work. If any official of the Indirect Taxation Authority is ordered detention, they will be immediately suspended from their position in accordance with current legislation. In this regard, we must await the final outcome of the proceedings to be concluded at the BiH Prosecutor's Office - Kovačević stated.

Today's operation "Tref 2" also shows the determination of state institutions to jointly resolve every form of corruption within their own ranks, and the ITA alone has initiated a total of 72 disciplinary proceedings this year for more or less serious breaches of official duty. In order to combat corruption, in every announcement to the public, the Authority has always called on all citizens and taxpayers to report any information about customs and VAT evasion or illegal behavior of our customs officers and tax inspectors. We repeat this call on this occasion and note that it can be made free of charge by calling 080 02 06 07 - it was announced from the ITA of BiH.