Cocaine cartel uncovered on SKY ECC busted in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Crime Area: Drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption 

Action days: 9 May 2023, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Participating countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Authorities involved: 

• Police Directorate - Ministry of Internal Affairs of Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• State Prosecutors Office, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Canton Sarajevo Prosecutors Office, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Arrests: 7 people arrested; 2 people searched for with international arrest warrants 

Searches: 30 houses raided; 10 companies searched

Seizures include:
•    5 high-end vehicles 
•    Large sums of cryptocurrency in various forms
•    247 crypto mining machines with a total value of over EUR 1 million
•    Cash in various currencies with a total value of approximately EUR 100 000
•    The equivalent of about EUR 150 000 in bank accounts
•    Luxury goods including jewellery and watches 
•    4 pistols with 300 pieces of ammunition.

Modus operandi: Cocaine is sent from South America to Europe by ships and private planes, usually hidden in coal or cans of tuna. The action day also targeted a political figure suspected of corruption, who was holding a position at the top of one of the municipalities in Canton Sarajevo.

Europol’s contribution: An intelligence packaged produced by Europol based on information from the SKY ECC operation allowed the identification of the structure, activities and international connections of the criminal network. This intelligence report triggered the current investigation. Europol further supported the national authorities with identification of High Value Targets, facilitation of information exchange, coordination of operational activities and operational analysis. 

For additional information, please reach out to Europol’s Press Office.