Božinović: Croatian police have proven to be reliable partner

Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović said on Thursday that the operation in which a number of people were arrested for smuggling 1.5 tonnes of cocaine did not happen by accident, noting that Croatian police have proven to be a reliable partner to international police organisations.

This is one of the biggest operations, at least when Croatian police and organised crime are concerned, Božinović said at a news conference, congratulating national police chief Nikola Milina and investigators, who in cooperation with members of the USKOK anti-corruption office were involved in an international investigation that resulted in the arrest of 10 people suspected of smuggling at least 1.5 tonnes of cocaine from South America.

Croatian police have been coordinating for several years international operations targeting the most serious types of crime, and in the last four to five years they have busted as many as 128 criminal rings, Božinović said.

"Croatian police have proven to be one of the most reliable partners to international police and other security organisations in this part of Europe," he said. 

Božinović noted that cooperation had been stepped up with EUROPOL and US agencies, and that the USA had not only cancelled visa requirements for Croatians but had also allowed pre-approved expedited clearance upon arrival into the US for Croatian nationals.

The US has signed such an agreement with only three other European countries, Germany, UK and Switzerland.

Speaking of the illegal narcotics market., Božinović said that it was growing as was the network of its actors in Southeast Europe, but that police results were the best ever.

Asked if the latest operation was connected with arrests in Serbia, where police arrested five people, including drug lord Darko Šarić, Božinović said that Croatian police cooperate with other countries' police forces so cooperation on that case is possible.

As for the Sky application, which reportedly helped catch the criminals, the minister said that no applications would have helped without long-lasting investigative police work.

Text: HINA

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