SIPA arrested three persons in the area of Bratunac and Sarajevo for migrant smuggling

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) in the area of Bratunac deprived two persons of liberty on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense under Article 189a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina „Organizing a group or association for migrant smuggling“ and prevented the smuggling of seven Iraqi nationals, three of whom were children.

During the implementation of these activities, SIPA police officers temporarily seized two passenger motor vehicles, several mobile phones, and other items that may serve as evidence in further criminal proceedings. Conducting another operational action within the case codenamed “Maroko”, SIPA police officers yesterday (January 28, 2020) searched a residential building in the area of Sarajevo and deprived one person of liberty on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense under Article 189a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina „Organizing a group or association for migrant smuggling“ and the criminal offense under Article 241 “Obstruction of justice” of the same law. The suspect was brought to SIPA premises and is undergoing criminal investigation, after which he will be handed over to the further jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the legal timeframe.

The aforementioned activities were conducted by orders of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Intelligence-Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, and the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton.