Operational action 'Hirijet': SIPA arrests one person

(Patria) - Today, police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), as part of the "Hirijet" operational action, carried out searches at two locations in the Tuzla area, and during that time, items that could serve as evidence in further criminal proceedings were found.

One person was arrested on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of "Human Smuggling," under Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in connection with the criminal offense of "Organizing a Group or Association for the Commission of the Criminal Offense of Migrant Smuggling," under Article 189a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The suspect is accused of, at the beginning of 2021, as the owner - founder and director of a legal entity for international transport, with the intention of obtaining unlawful gain for himself, organizing an organized crime group for the purpose of transferring several migrants across the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina into an European Union country, for whom he was aware that they did not meet the conditions for legal entry into the European Union.

The searches were carried out by order of the Court of BiH and under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tuzla Canton. Also, intensive cooperation was established with the police authorities of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Slovenia, EUROPOL, and support was provided by the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC).

The arrested person will be questioned at the official premises of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, and the acting prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH will decide on the further status of the person.