In continuation of Operation Piramida, two more persons deprived of liberty for migrant smuggling

(Patria) - Police officers of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina carried out activities under the operational action codenamed "Piramida", aimed at preventing organized migrant smuggling.

In the continuation of the action, searches were conducted in the area of Visoko and Kiseljak in residential buildings and premises owned/used by the suspects. These activities were undertaken in accordance with orders of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to reasonable suspicion of committing the criminal offense of "Organizing a group or association for the commission of the criminal offense of migrant smuggling" under Article 189a, paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in connection with the criminal offense of "People smuggling" under Article 189, paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The suspects were questioned as suspects and handed over to the acting prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office, whereupon custody was ordered for the suspects.

We remind you that part of the international organized criminal group, in the last six months, attempted to smuggle or smuggled over 600 persons, including over 100 minors, across the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby realizing a financial gain of more than six million convertible marks.

Searches were previously conducted at 16 locations in Bihać, Cazin, Breza, Visoko, Sarajevo, Kakanj and Velika Kladuša, during which 14 persons were deprived of liberty. The activities, led by the organizational unit of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the prevention of cross-border organized crime, were carried out together with the Criminal Police Directorate of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia and EUROPOL, under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Support in the implementation, in which over 150 police officers participated, was provided by police officers of the Ministry of Interior of the Una-Sana Canton, while during the investigation, continuous support to the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina was provided by the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.