Bosnia Arrests Five on Suspected Visa Abuse

In an operation that followed several months of investigation, officers on Monday searched several locations in the wider Sarajevo region, seizing a number of travel documents, employment documents, various stamps, and equipment used in the forgery of documents that Bosnian citizens need for visas to European Union countries.

Police also seized a large quantity of office material, mobile phones and computers.

The arrests were carried out by officers from the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, at the order of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor’s Office.
.
The operation came on the same day that Bosnian citizens were granted visa-free travel to most European Union countries. From mid December, Bosnians will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen zone without a visa.

Also on Monday, EU officials warned that the bloc has stepped up its monitoring of travellers from the Balkans to crack down on the types of abuses seen after Macedonia and Serbia were granted visa liberalisation in December 2009, and stressed that the visa-free regime can be suspended.