Following evidence obtained via the Sky and Anom apps, 22 people were arrested in an organised crime swoop in three Bosnian cities, including high-ranking police officials.
On the order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, police arrested 22 individuals in three different cities, including high-ranking police officials and other members of law enforcement institutions.
In the on-going action dubbed “Black Tie 2”, police raided “several dozen locations” simultaneously in the capital Sarajevo, and in Zenica and Mostar.
“The aim of the operation is to target multiple suspected individuals, both physical and legal entities. Among those arrested are high-ranking officials from police agencies and law enforcement institutions,” the state-level Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday.
Among those confirmed as arrested are Mustafa Selmanovic, chief of Special Police of the Federation Police Administration, and businessman Gordan Memija. As media reported, police also raided the office of the chief of the Federation Police Administration, Vahidin Munjic, whose offices are still under search.
“The activities are focused on prosecuting individuals suspected of organised crime, unauthorised trafficking of large quantities of narcotics, money laundering, and other related criminal offences,” the Prosecution said, adding that support for the investigation was provided by FBI, DEA and EUROPOL.
The Prosecutor’s Office said evidence from encrypted communication apps Sky ECC and Anom, used by criminals for safe communication, was used in the process.
This is not the first time Bosnian police had to arrest their own officers. In July 2023, Police in the Zenica-Doboj Canton detained 16 officers from the police station in Kakanj, north of Sarajevo.
In 2022, BIRN reported on the ties between the organised crime and Bosnian officials. Police officers, a judge, a ministerial aide, and an intelligence officer were among dozens of people arrested in 2022 alone, blowing the lid on the web of ties between the state and organised crime.
