23 Arrests in Bosnia Linked to Global Drug Kingpin’s Network
Law enforcement officials in Bosnia have detained 23 individuals suspected of belonging to the ‘inner circle’ of a prominent drug kingpin. The arrests, conducted in collaboration with Europol, were part of a broader crackdown on criminal networks controlling the European cocaine trade.
The suspects, including police and security officials, are accused of involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, and other organized crime offenses. Europol stated that the arrests targeted not only accomplices but also corrupt officials who allegedly facilitated the network’s illicit activities.
The operation, which included raids on homes and other locations, resulted in the seizure of guns, money, cars, laptops, and other evidence. Bosnian authorities had previously apprehended two individuals and confiscated 55,000 euros ($58,000), firearms, and money-laundering documentation.
Europol characterized Monday’s arrests as a ‘milestone’ in the fight against criminal networks. Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI also participated in the operation.
Bosnian authorities froze bank accounts and halted financial transactions belonging to the suspects. Encrypted phone conversations were among the evidence collected against the group, which is suspected of being linked to a drug kingpin arrested in the Netherlands in 2022 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
The ongoing efforts to dismantle these criminal networks underscore the continuing battle against drug trafficking and organized crime in Europe.
