OCCRP
In a significant operation on Wednesday, European authorities arrested 17 Turkish nationals linked to a criminal organization involved in murders, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, and counterfeit cigarette smuggling. The arrests took place in Italy and other European countries, with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) confirming the apprehension of one suspect in Pale.
This suspect was transferred to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further proceedings. The crackdown followed an earlier operation last October when the Italian National Police arrested three members, including the leader, who continued to manage criminal activities while under house arrest.
The investigation revealed the organization’s extensive illegal activities, which included orchestrating terrorist acts, such as a murder in Berlin and an attack on an aluminum factory in Turkey. Europol provided crucial support with intelligence analysis and coordination, uncovering international financial flows that funded the criminal operations across Europe.
This multinational effort saw collaboration from law enforcement agencies in Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting the extensive and coordinated approach required to tackle such a pervasive criminal network.
