SFOR DISBANDS BOSNIAN SERB ARMY UNIT FOR SMUGGLING WEAPONS

SARAJEVO/TUZLA, March 1 (Hina) - A Bosnian Serb army unit was disbanded on Monday in line with a decision by the Stabilisation Force commander in Tuzla (northern Bosnia), because it was discovered that its members had been smuggling weapons. An investigation, carried out after international forces had confiscated two trucks loaded with weapons and ammunition near the northern Bosnian town of Brcko last Wednesday, proved that members of the 311 infantry brigade of the Republika Srpska Army had been directly involved in illegal weapons trade. The command, the barracks, the weapons and ammunition depots as well as other buildings which belonged to the 311 brigade can no longer be used for any military purpose, an SFOR statement said. Spokesman for the Tuzla-based multinational division "North", Major Matt Hennecki, told Hina that SFOR members had taken over control of the buildings and weapons that belonged to the disbanded unit. Once the investigation is over, the SFOR will suggest measures to be taken as regards the confiscated weapons and equipment, Hennecki said. The SFOR spokesman confirmed that the three persons for whom it was established that they had been directly involved in the smuggling affair, were still in detention at the US army base near Tuzla. The investigation is ongoing. During a routine check-up on February 24, the SFOR stopped two trucks loaded with weapons and ammunition near Brcko. Papers pointing to the involvement of the "Trans-servis" company from Bijeljina were found in the two vehicles. During a raid at the company's warehouse, several dozen cases with weapons, ammunition and explosive were found hidden behind piles of cut wood. The equipment that was discovered included SA-7 anti-aircraft launchers, anti-tank rockets, mortars, machine-guns and other infantry weapons. (hina) rml