Law enforcement officers in Bosnia have arrested 23 individuals suspected of being part of a global drug kingpin's inner circle. The arrests were made as part of a coordinated effort by Bosnian officials on Monday, with suspects being detained during searches at their residences and other locations.
Among those apprehended were corrupt officials who were allegedly aiding the criminal activities of the network. The suspects are believed to be involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and other organized crime offenses.
The arrests are a significant development in the fight against criminal networks controlling a substantial portion of Europe's cocaine trade. The European Union's law enforcement agency, along with Bosnian authorities, confirmed that the suspects were taken into custody as security forces conducted searches that led to the seizure of guns, money, cars, laptops, and other pieces of evidence.
Two individuals had been previously arrested, and authorities had confiscated $58,000, eight firearms, 11 police radios, and money-laundering documentation. The recent arrests mark another milestone in the ongoing battle against criminal alliances.
Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI also participated in the operation. The state security agency SIPA in Bosnia disclosed that bank accounts belonging to the suspects had been temporarily frozen, and all financial transactions were halted.
The evidence against the group includes encrypted phone conversations. The 23 individuals are suspected of being part of the inner circle of a drug kingpin who was arrested in 2022 and subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison in the Netherlands.
