Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency conducted the “NID” operation today in the areas of Sarajevo, East Sarajevo and Zavidovići.
Searches were conducted of business and residential buildings and movable property at three locations owned or used by suspects, during which items were discovered and temporarily seized that could serve as evidence of the commission of the criminal offenses of “Organized Crime”, “International Human Trafficking” and “Money Laundering” prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the criminal offense of “Human Trafficking” prescribed by the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the criminal offense of “Human Trafficking” prescribed by the Criminal Code of the Republika Srpska.
Three persons were deprived of their liberty and will be taken to official premises during the day for criminal processing and questioning as suspects, after which they will be handed over to the further jurisdiction of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The persons deprived of their liberty are suspected of having, together with other persons, in the period from May to September 2024, by fraud, deceit, threat, use of force and abuse of trust, recruited several foreign citizens, including citizens of the Republic of Turkey, as well as citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were in a state of economic need, unemployed, poor financial situation, or persons from vulnerable social categories, including minors, for their labor exploitation in the construction sector in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They promised them the regulation of their labor status, payment of wages and provision of accommodation and food, although they had no intention of doing so, and exploited them through unpaid work on the construction of a highway and apartments on Bjelašnica and Jahorina. They kept their travel documents and used their position of dependence to obtain material gain.
They inserted illegally acquired funds into legal financial flows with the aim of concealing the origin of the money, thereby committing the crimes of human trafficking and money laundering, contrary to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and relevant protocols, SIPA announced.
