Operations "List" and "Box" concluded: 42 locations searched, 30 people arrested

Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) today completed searches of facilities at 42 locations.

The operations codenamed "List II and BOX", were carried out under the supervision of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, in cooperation with members of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH and with the assistance of police officers from the Brčko District BiH Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of West Herzegovina Canton, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Una-Sana Canton, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tuzla Canton due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that persons covered by the "List II" and "Box" operations have damaged the BiH budget by an amount exceeding 10 million KM.

- Within the scope of the mentioned operations, 30 persons were deprived of liberty and searches of facilities were carried out at 42 locations in the municipalities of Bijeljina, Gradačac, Orašje, Brod, Grude, Posušje, Mostar, Čitluk, Široki Brijeg, Sanski Most and Travnik due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that they have committed the criminal offense of organized crime in connection with the criminal offense of illegal trade in excise goods.

 During the searches, approximately 25 tons of tobacco, six tobacco cutting machines, a large amount of money, weapons, certain documentation and other items that may serve as evidence in further proceedings were found and temporarily confiscated from the facilities used by the suspects.

 The persons deprived of liberty will be processed at the premises of SIPA, after which their further status will be decided in accordance with the instructions of the acting prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office - it was announced from SIPA.