The Director of the Criminal Police Directorate Matjaž Jerkič made a press statement on 20 May, explaining the details of the completed criminal investigation into an international organised crime group involved in the manufacture and trade in drugs and weapons in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The investigation also revealed that under the leadership of a BiH citizen detained in Slovenia, activities had been planned for his escape from prison.
Jerkič said that yesterday, 19 May, the Criminal Police Division of the Ljubljana Police Directorate, in cooperation with other police units and foreign security authorities, completed the criminal investigation into the international organised crime group operating in the territory of Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under the leadership of a Bosnia and Herzegovina citizen. The criminal investigation was directed by the Specialised State Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Slovenia.
The international organised crime group was involved in the commission of criminal offences of illicit manufacture and trade in drugs and illicit manufacture and trafficking in weapons or explosives. Four suspects were arrested and ordered to be detained for up to 48 hours under the provisions of paragraph two of Article 157 of the Criminal Procedure Act. One suspect is scheduled to be brought before the investigating judge tomorrow, 21 May, for the offence of drug trafficking while one suspect is already in custody. Criminal investigators have collected evidence of four drug trafficking offences punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment, a drug trafficking offence committed by an organised crime group punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment, and a weapons trafficking offence punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment.
Following the orders issued by the District Court in Ljubljana, four locations in the areas of the Ljubljana and Maribor Police Directorates were searched. The police seized 2 kg of cannabis, a small quantity of cocaine (20 g) and MDMA tablets (21 tablets), a drug press and several electronic devices.
The investigation revealed an international organised crime group led and directed by the BiH citizen, who is currently in detention on suspicion of committing a crime related to a murder last year. The leader of the international organised crime group instructed the members of the group on drug and weapons smuggling. The detained suspects acted as couriers.
During the investigation, it was also established that the members of this international organised crime group, under the leadership of the detained BiH national, had planned various activities for his escape from the Maribor Prison. One of the methods of escape was to use a grenade launcher and diamond wire to destroy the part of the prison where detainees were being held. In the investigation, no threats directed against prison staff were detected.
The investigation of the international organised crime group and the gathering of information are ongoing in cooperation with foreign security authorities.
This case once again confirms the high level of competence of the Slovenian criminal police, which enjoys a high reputation in the international arena. The success of such complex investigations is also based on the perseverance, tactical ingenuity and excellent cooperation of the criminal investigators with the prosecutor's office, for which criminal police Director Matjaž Jerkič thanked and praised everyone. We would also like to highlight the extremely good cooperation with the Prison Administration of the Republic of Slovenia.