On Monday, police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) detained two people as part of the “Hold” operation in the area of Gradačac.
SIPA announced that an apartment and other premises and movable property were searched in the Gradačac area.
“Two persons were deprived of their liberty due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that they have committed the criminal offense of ‘International human trafficking’ prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the announcement states.
Those deprived of their liberty were taken to SIPA premises for criminal processing and questioning as suspects.
During the search, 3,000 BAM, one laptop, documentation and other items that can be used as evidence that the criminal offense “International human trafficking” was committed were discovered and temporarily confiscated.
The search was carried out on the basis of an oral order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Tuzla Canton and the Service for Affairs with Foreigners of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The identified victim was taken care of with the support of the NGO sector and is in a safe location, the BiH Prosecutor’s Office reported.
The suspects are accused of exploiting the victim’s difficult position and the fact that she is thousands of kilometers from her home country, and she was deprived of her documents and denied freedom of movement.
After the action, the traumatized victim was cared for, and the support of the Witness Support Officer of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, as well as employees of the non-governmental sector, active in providing support to victims in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration, was used.
The BiH Prosecutor’s Office, SIPA and law enforcement agencies continue documenting the criminal offense and collecting evidence in this case.
Due to the sensitivity of the matter, as well as the protection of the victim, we cannot provide more information or details at this time.
