The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) carried out an operation codenamed “Renta,” resulting in the arrest of two Turkish nationals suspected of organizing a group for migrant smuggling and human trafficking, as defined under the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following criminal processing and questioning, the suspects will be handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further proceedings.

Evidence seized

During the operation, law enforcement searched a residential property and seized evidence including mobile phones, documentation, and 85 Turkish passports believed to have been smuggled in earlier operations. These items will serve as evidence in the criminal proceedings.

International cooperation

The “Renta” operation is part of the work conducted by SIPA within the Operational Group Zebra, operating under Europol’s framework. It involved cooperation with police forces from Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom.

Activity on migrant route

The arrested individuals were active for an extended period on the Western Balkan route and are suspected of smuggling over 100 illegal migrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Union.

The operation was conducted under the order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, supervised by the Prosecutor’s Office, and in collaboration with the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Central Bosnia Canton, according to SIPA’s statement.