Criminals face tough 'Zora': SIPA, cantonal police and UIO in action over multiple serious criminal offences

(Patria) - Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) are today conducting searches of residential and auxiliary buildings and vehicles at six locations in the area of Sarajevo Canton and Central Bosnia Canton.

The searches are being conducted by order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to reasonable suspicion that the criminal offences of "Organising a group for the purpose of committing criminal offences" in connection with the criminal offence of "Unauthorised trafficking in narcotic drugs", "Organising a group of people or an association for smuggling or distribution of uncustomed goods" and "Smuggling" prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the criminal offence of "Forgery of documents" prescribed by the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been committed.

Members of the aforementioned organised crime group have, in the past period, i.e. since November 2024, in a manner known to them, come into possession of stolen or embezzled vehicles in the European Union, and transported them across the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, avoiding the payment of customs duties. After the vehicle arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they obtained, in a manner known to them, identification data of vehicles with the same or similar characteristics and equipment, and then, using the obtained identities, altered the identification data on the disputed vehicles, subsequently forged customs documentation and registered them as such with the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and made such vehicles available to themselves and other persons for daily use and further sale. Also, members of the aforementioned group were actively involved in the trade of narcotics, weapons and military equipment, from which they acquired illegal property gain in the form of money or other movable items of value.

The operational action "Zora" is being carried out in cooperation with police officers of the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton, the Ministry of Interior of Central Bosnia Canton, the Ministry of Interior of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina.