Criminal ringleader and nine associates arrested after killing a witness

Following an operation against a highly dangerous and violent criminal network based in the Western Balkans, Europol has supported Slovenian and Bosnia and Herzegovinian law enforcement in a series of action days. Taking a multi-stage approach, police forces methodically moved against the criminals, delivering blow after blow. In three separate action days, 10 people were arrested, including the organisation’s leader, and significant amounts of weapons, explosives and drugs were seized. The Western Balkan criminal network was responsible for committing violent crimes, trafficking and distributing drugs, but also for supplying weapons and explosives to organised crime networks based in EU Member States.  

Europol’s Operational Task Force, which is dedicated to targeting criminal networks in the Balkans, had identified the network’s leader as a high-value target. After a major crackdown in May 2023, which led to the arrest of 37 members, a branch of the criminal network remained active. It was led by a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was incarcerated at the time. The ringleader orchestrated the network’s criminal activities from his prison cell, regularly issuing orders and instructions on matters related to the trafficking of drugs and firearms.

Ringleader in hiding found after killing a witness

Upon his release, the high-value target went underground and continued to run the criminal network from a safe house in Slovenia. In late November 2024, the undercover ringleader allegedly organised and coordinated the professional assassination of a witness in the case. Marked as a suspect, Slovenian law enforcement authorities began zeroing in on his location.

The high-value target was taken into custody during the operation’s first action day in December 2024. In the following days, Slovenian police arrested several of his criminal associates responsible for the organisation and preparation of the witness’s murder, as well as the trafficking of drugs, firearms and explosives into EU Member States. The criminal network was hierarchically organised, with each member fulfilling roles such as logistician, counter-surveillance specialist, assassin, as well as weapons, explosives and drug trafficker. Investigations are ongoing.

Summary of the operation

• 3 Action Days (5/6 December 2024 And 10/11 February 2025 Around Ljubljana (Slovenia); 4/5 February 2025 In Sarajevo (Bosnia And Herzegovina))
• 10 Suspects Arrested (4 Slovenians, 5 Bosnians And 1 Albanian), With 7 Remaining In Custody
• An Automatic Rifle, Several Handguns (Some With Removed Serial Numbers), Silencers, And Over 200 Rounds Of Ammunition Seized
• Several Remote Controls And Electric Detonators For Explosive Charges Seized
• 10 Kg Of Heroin, 3.5 Kg Of Cocaine, 18 Kg Of Morphine And Other Drugs Seized
• A Large Number Of Electronic Devices, Mobile Phones, SIM Cards As Well As Forged And Counterfeit Documents Seized

Europol’s support

Europol organised an operational meeting, analysed the information shared by the involved countries and supported the development of intelligence. In addition to coordinating the operation during the three action days, Europol experts were deployed on the spot to facilitate immediate cross-checking of new evidence against Europol’s databases.

Participating authorities

• Bosnia And Herzegovina: Ministry Of Internal Affairs Of Canton Sarajevo – Criminal Police Department (Ministarstvo Unutrašnjih Poslova - Sektor Kriminalističke Policije)
• Slovenia: National Bureau Of Investigation (Nacionalni Preiskovalni Urad); Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office (Specializirano Državno Tožilstvo)
• Sweden: National Operations Department, Swedish Police Authority (Nationella Operativa Avdelningen, Polismyndigheten)