Police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republika Srpska and the Border Police, as part of the operational action “Sljunkar” and “Neon 2”, in the area of Bijeljina, carried out searches of residential buildings and mobile things in 19 locations.
“Eight persons were deprived of their liberty who were subjected to criminal proceedings and were questioned as suspects. Their further status will be determined by the acting prosecutor within the legal term,” SIPA announced.
It is stated that during the search, about a kilogram of marijuana, 32 grams of cocaine, two semi-automatic and two automatic rifles, a large quantity of landmines and explosives, three so-called land mines, pates, two detonators for landmines, two cables for landmines, two panels of plastic explosives, two sticks of plastic explosives and two associated detonators for their activation were discovered and temporarily confiscated. In addition, a vacuuming machine with traces of powdery substance, about 750 bullets for an automatic rifle caliber 7.62 mm, a large number of hand grenades, two oil bottles, precursors for the production of amphetamines – battery acid, mixers for making and increasing the mixture, were also temporarily confiscated.
It is also stated that five liters of methanol were discovered and temporarily confiscated, equipment for equipping the laboratory for the cultivation of the narcotic drug marijuana – lamps, flowerpots and an electrical power supply system, an air purifier filter, as well as other items that can serve as evidence that the crimes listed below were committed .
SIPA adds that the above-mentioned activities were carried out due to the existence of grounds for suspicion that the criminal offenses “Organized crime”, “Unauthorized traffic in narcotic drugs” and “Money laundering” prescribed by the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the criminal offense “Unauthorized production and traffic narcotic drugs” prescribed by the Criminal Code of the Republika Srpska.
The searches were carried out by order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bijeljina.
“In addition to the above, by carrying out special investigative actions, it was found out that members of this organized crime group trafficked around 150 kilograms of the narcotic drug hashish, 45 kilograms of the narcotic drug marijuana, as well as a large amount of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy in the territory of the European Union. “A certain amount of the narcotic drug heroin was discovered and temporarily confiscated from one of the members of this organized group, as well as a mixture for increasing the amount of mass for this drug,” SIPA added.
During the work on the subject, SIPA achieved good international cooperation with partner agencies of Western European countries.