In the period from 29 September until 4 October 2024 the operational phase of the INTERPOL Operational Action codenamed "LIBERTERRA II" was implemented with the aim of combating migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other related crimes. It is a global operational action in which participated 116 Interpol member countries from all continents.
In the realization of the action in Bosnia and Herzegovina actively participated the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Border Police of BiH, the Service for Foreign Affairs, the MoI of the Federation of BiH, the MoI of the Republika Srpska, the MoI of Sarajevo Canton, the MoI of Zenica-Doboj Canton, MoI of Tuzla Canton, MoI of Canton 10 Livno, MoI of Central-Bosnia Canton, MoI of Bosnian-Podrinje Canton and MoI of Una-Sana Canton. During several months of pre-operational preparations and the implementation of the operational phase the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina conducted and coordinated all activities aimed at the timely and successful implementation of this Operational Action in our country.
The objectives of the Operational Action were to promote the optimal use of INTERPOL's police capabilities and to provide support to countries in ongoing investigations, while its main goal was identification and dismantling of organized criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking, detecting, arresting and prosecuting of perpetrators, detecting and identification of irregular migrants and potential victims of human trafficking and providing assistance to victims of human trafficking and migrants who are in vulnerable situations.
The results of this action are visible primarily through the activities undertaken for the purpose of combating people smuggling and human trafficking, but also combating other forms of organized crime, increased checks of persons, vehicles and documents through the INTERPOL databases.
During the operational phase of Operational action LIBERTERRA II, 2.517 suspects were arrested on a global scale, where 850 were accused specifically of human trafficking or migrant smuggling, 3.222 victims of human trafficking were rescued and 17.793 irregular migrants were identified. Authorities around the world conducted police raids, reinforced strategic border checkpoints, monitored nearly 24.000 flights. Globally, almost 8 million checks have been carried out on INTERPOL's databases.
According to the available data during the operational phase, 8 persons were arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which 4 specifically on charges of human trafficking or migrant smuggling, 87 irregular migrants, 4 victims of human trafficking were detected, 4.695 persons were controlled, 47 checks were carried out in the INTERPOL databases, 103 flights were monitored, 616 checkpoints were established.
The Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH thanks all the institutions whose members participated in the preparation and realization of this Operational Action and emphasizes the readiness for further continuous taking over measures and actions within its jurisdiction in order to prevent crimes and offences in this area of crime.