New Arrests of Drug Dealers, SIPA in Four Cities

Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) today conducted an operational action in the areas of Trebinje, Foča, Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mostar, and carried out searches of residential buildings, persons and movable property at seven locations.

Four persons were arrested on suspicion of having committed the criminal offenses of organized crime, unauthorized trafficking in narcotic drugs, unauthorized trafficking in weapons and military equipment and dual-use products, and money laundering, prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the criminal offense of preparation of a criminal offense, in connection with the criminal offense of murder, prescribed by the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the criminal offense of forgery of documents, prescribed by the Criminal Code of the Republika Srpska. After criminal processing in SIPA premises, the arrested persons will be handed over to the prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the search, items that may serve as evidence in further proceedings were discovered and temporarily seized, including: mobile phones with corresponding SIM cards, laptops, computers and certain documentation.

The operational action was carried out by order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Intelligence-Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republika Srpska, the Police of Brčko District of BiH and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.

The activities are being conducted within the framework of cases opened in the Prosecutor's Office of BiH after the decryption of encrypted applications, which members of organized criminal groups in the region used as a means of communication, SIPA announced.