Continuation of Operation "List": SIPA Searches Premises in Grude

As part of the continuation of the operation codenamed "List", police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) yesterday searched two premises in the municipality of Grude. The activities were carried out in cooperation with members of the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports the Patria news agency.

Searched were premises used by individuals with initials R.B. and Z.B., with the aim of finding and temporarily seizing items that could serve as evidence in further proceedings. During the search, one tobacco cutting machine, approximately 170 kg of cut tobacco, and other items were found and temporarily seized. These activities were carried out pursuant to orders from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Individuals with initials R.B. and Z.B. are suspected of committing the criminal offense of organized crime, in connection with the criminal offense of tax evasion or fraud. They are suspected of having, as members of an organized criminal group, smuggled larger quantities of cut tobacco into the market of the Republic of Croatia multiple times during 2015 and illegally placed it into illicit circulation. R.B. and Z.B. were summoned yesterday to the official premises of SIPA and questioned as suspects.

During the work on this case, close cooperation was established with police authorities of the Republic of Croatia, with operational knowledge and information being intensively exchanged. Also, coordinated field activities were carried out in the territory of the Republic of Croatia yesterday.

We recall that within the framework of the operation ”List“, which began on July 13 this year, SIPA deprived of liberty several individuals linked to the smuggling of high-tariff goods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e., the illegal trade of tobacco in leaf and cut tobacco, and searched premises at 31 locations across a wide area of Bosnia and Herzegovina.