SIPA arrests two individuals for illegal trade in excise products

As part of the continuation of the operational action codenamed “Bond”, police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) today (01.10.2017) in the area of Banja Luka, Zenica, Ključ and Cazin, conducted searches of four residential buildings, other premises and movable property, and thereby deprived two individuals of their liberty.

During the multi-month investigation, several individuals were covered, for whom there are grounds for suspicion that, as members of an organized criminal group, with clearly divided roles, with the aim of acquiring unlawful property gain, they engaged in international trade in excise products - cigarettes, by continuously procuring cigarettes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and then smuggling them into European Union countries.

During the search, mobile phones, SIM cards and other items were found and temporarily seized, indicating grounds for suspicion that the criminal offense of organized crime in connection with the criminal offenses of smuggling and illegal trade in excise products was committed, all in connection with Article 54 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina “Extended Criminal Offense”.

Through the investigative actions carried out in this case, a total of 1,850 cartons of cigarettes worth approximately 92,500.00 convertible marks have been temporarily seized so far.

After criminal processing, the deprived individuals will be handed over to the competent prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further proceedings.