POLICE ARREST 13 SUSPECTED CAR THIEVES

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - Thirteen persons, suspected of organised stealing and smuggling of vehicles, have been arrested following the completion of a police investigation involving 14 suspects, the head of the Zagreb police organised crime department, Robert Kralj, told reporters on Saturday. One of the suspects is at large and an arrest warrant has been issued after him. Kralj said this the biggest investigation into this type of crime in the past several years. The suspects were taken to the Zagreb County Court investigating centre last Thursday. They are all charged with committing, assisting and covering up serious thefts, fraud, drug abuse and association with the aim of committing thefts. The group smuggled the stolen vehicles from Croatia to Bosnia- Herzegovina, where they were sold or returned to their owners in exchange for a remuneration. The investigation established that the group had stolen 17 vehicles, of which some had been smuggled to Bosnia-Herzegovina and were not found. The police have found six stolen vehicles and another vehicle, suspected to be stolen, was discovered this morning. The total value of the stolen vehicles is estimated at some 1.3 million kuna. The suspects already have police files with these and similar types of criminal acts. The investigation continues. (hina) rml.