US Expresses Gratitude for Assistance in Arresting Pedophile Robert Vučić

Director of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, Dragan Mektić, and Chief of the Operational Support Sector, Rade Kovač, received on March 16 a visit from Kevin W. Murphy, Security Attaché of the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports the Patria news agency.

 

On this occasion, Security Attaché Kevin W. Murphy handed Director Dragan Mektić a letter of thanks from the Diplomatic Security Service of the US Department of State, as well as commendations to members of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs for the effective activities undertaken to organize the location and discovery of fugitive Michael Robert Vučić in September 2014.

This concerns a person for whom a warrant was issued in the US for multiple committed crimes of pedophilia, facing a prison sentence of up to 100 years, and whose passport and all other documents issued by the US government were declared invalid by the competent authorities in the US.

For the outstanding professionalism and expertise demonstrated in leading the operation and efficiently organizing the location and apprehension of the said person in this case, as well as his effective deportation from BiH, the US Embassy presented certificates of appreciation to the following members of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs: Rade Kovač, Chief of the Operational Support Sector; Ivo Ramljak, Chief of the Sector for Readmission, Reception and Accommodation; Muris Selimović, Head of the Department for Readmission, Reception and Accommodation; Dejan Pejčinović, Foreigners Inspector; Goran Stajić, Foreigners Inspector; Vahid Šarotić, Foreigners Inspector; Vladislav Žuža, Security Officer at the Immigration Center.

We note that in cooperation with representatives of the US Embassy in Sarajevo, on September 12, 2014, planned operational activities were undertaken by foreigners inspectors in the area of the municipality of Čitluk, where the named person was believed to be located.

However, as he was not found, further comprehensive operational measures and actions were taken to locate him. Shortly thereafter, through extensive field checks, the foreigners inspectors located the said foreign national in the area of the municipality of Široki Brijeg, apprehended him, and brought him to the official premises of the Mostar Field Center of the Service, and then to the Immigration Center, after which he was deported from BiH and handed over to the US authorities.

At the said meeting, among other things, discussions were held on improving and continuing cooperation to strengthen the operational capacities of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, and thus a more efficient fight against all forms of terrorism, human trafficking, organized crime, and illegal migration, thereby making a significant contribution to the protection of the security system of BiH, the Service for Foreigners' Affairs announced.