Joint operation of Border Police and RS Ministry of Interior: Six people arrested in "Štek"

(Patria) - In an operation led by a joint police investigation team, by order of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, police officers of the BiH Border Police and the RS Ministry of Interior carried out an operation codenamed
"Štek", aimed at preventing cross-border organized crime.

Six individuals were deprived of liberty due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that they committed the criminal offense of organizing a group or association for the commission of a criminal offense - smuggling
migrants from Article 189a. in conjunction with the criminal offenses of human smuggling from Article 189.
and the criminal offense of money laundering from Article 209. of the Criminal Code of BiH.

The persons deprived of liberty are suspected of having, over a longer period, as
members of a human smuggling group, repeatedly engaged in organized smuggling of migrants in freight motor vehicles from the territory of the Republic of Serbia to the territory of BiH, and further towards EU countries.

The suspects, in the manner described, placed the illegally acquired property benefits into
legal channels and other businesses, thereby laundering money, and thus concealing
the traces of the commission of criminal offenses.
 
As part of the operation, searches were carried out at several locations in the areas of Bijeljina, Zvornik, and
Tuzla, and items used in the commission of criminal offenses were temporarily confiscated.

After all investigative actions are completed, the acting prosecutor will make a decision on
further activities in the case.