Major operation by SIPA and Austrian police: Arrests of several individuals in Bijeljina and Vukosavlje

(Patria) - Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), early this morning on September 26, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Austria and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia, and with the assistance of police officers of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Srpska, have begun implementing an international police operation codenamed „Damar“.

The operation is aimed at gathering evidence regarding the commission of the criminal offense of „Organized Crime“ under Article 250, in connection with the criminal offense of „Unauthorized Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs“ under Article 195 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Searches of residential and business premises, movable property, and individuals are underway at six locations in the areas of Bijeljina and Vukosavlje.

There are grounds for suspicion that the suspects, in the period from April to September 2018, with the aim of acquiring unlawful property gain, established an organized criminal group for the production and smuggling of the narcotic drug marijuana and its derivative skunk from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Austria.

In the course of activities carried out so far under orders from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, three individuals have been deprived of liberty and a laboratory with artificial conditions for growing marijuana has been discovered.

The public will be informed about the results of the operation at a later time.