One person arrested as organizer of cigarette smuggling

(Patria) - Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) continued the operational action codenamed ”23” from July 19, 2021, during which a search of a trailer-tanker intended for gas transport found and temporarily seized a large quantity of cigarettes worth 1,300,000.00 KM. On November 11, 2021, they deprived one person of liberty, who was identified as the organizer.

The person was stopped in the evening hours of November 11, 2021, in the area of Tomislavgrad during a routine check by police officers of the Tomislavgrad Police Administration, after which they were handed over to SIPA police officers for further jurisdiction. The person was deprived of liberty on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of “Organized Crime” under Article 250 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina in connection with the criminal offense of “Unauthorized Trafficking in Excise Products” under Article 210.a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The person deprived of liberty will, after criminal processing and examination as a suspect in SIPA premises, be handed over to the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further jurisdiction, along with a supplementary report on the committed criminal offense and the perpetrator.

Further investigative actions continue with the aim of documenting other suspects.