Kinahan Cartel partners in Bosnia planned to ‘take over the state’
Eastern European gangsters linked to the Irish mob boss attempted to gain political influence in a bid to gain control of their country
The Eastern European mob is headed by close Kinahan ally Edin ‘Tito’ Gacanin, who has been dubbed ‘the European Escobar’ by US officials.Together with the Kinahans and other international associates, they form part of what is described as a “supercartel” – pooling their substantial resources and networks to profit from illegal activity primarily based around the drugs trade.The gang were targeted in an operation led by the Bosnia and Herzegovina State Investigation and Protection Agency with the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Europol.Kinahan ally Edin ‘Tito’ GacaninPolice arrested 23 people on Monday, including senior law enforcement officers, as part of the operation.Later in the week, prosecutors presented shocking claims before court as detention measures were requested for numerous people, including Mustafa Selmanović, head of the Special Police Unit of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vahidin Munji, the acting director of the Federation’s Police Directorate, and Edin Kavar, of the country’s Intelligence and Security Agency.In total, nine law enforcement officials were before the courts alongside 14 other, including businessmen Gordan Memija, from Sarajevo, and Haris Behram, from Mostar, as well as Tarik Zulovi, manager of a hospital in the central Bosnian city of Zenica.Police from several agencies seized drugs and arrested 23 suspectsThe Sarajevo Times reported that the suspects are charged with organised crime, money laundering, abuse of position, receiving rewards and other forms of benefits.Prosecutors allege that members of the cartel tried to gain political influence with the aim of “taking over the state”.They said that as part of this plan they contacted local politicians and offered financial support.They also say members of the criminal group advised setting up citizens’ associations to achieve political influence, and messages decrypted from the Sky messaging app showed they were often interested in the political situation.Prosecutors highlighted the role of Haris Behram who formed a citizens association, Brankovac.They also pointed out that businessman Gordan Memija paid several police officers to act as personal security for Gacanin when visiting Sarajevo.It is alleged that a large amount of material evidence was found in Memija’s possession.They also allege that Edin Kavar, of the Intelligence and Security Agency, handed over official documents related to organised crime for financial gain.Prosecutors say that the money was laundered through the procurement of uniforms for police through a company called Rhea Express, which was owned by Ermin Alamerović, who is also a suspect in this case.Edin ‘Tito’ GacaninProsecutors allege that from 2016 to 2021 an organised crime group led by Adnan Smajlović laundered drug-trafficking money obtained from the Tito and Dino Cartel.They describe the cartel as an organised crime group operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UAE, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, South America, the Republic of South Africa and other countries.They allege the accused people joined through the Sky encrypted message app, using code names such as Aristotle and Lucky Luke.Prosecutors allege Edin Gacanin and Adnan Smajlović made decisions on the execution of criminal acts while other members of the group acted on their instructions.Daniel KinahanGacanin, who was a guest at Daniel Kinahan’s Dubai wedding in 2017, received a seven-year term in the Netherlands last year for smuggling 2,400kg of cocaine from South America into Europe.Meanwhile, the Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina Journalists and the Helpline for Journalists this week condemned statements of the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković, about media reporting of the operation.In a statement, they claimed the minister abused the public space of the Ministry and of his own position and tried to criminalise a number journalists without argument and evidence calling them “part of the media-judicial mafia” because they wrote about the arrests and connections with the Tito and Dino Cartel.
