The joint operations are the result of the changed mandate of the EUFOR, which, unlike SFOR, whose mission ended in December 2004, has the authority to take measures in fighting grave crimes, especially organised crime, Colak said at a news conference held with the EUFOR commander, General David Leaky of Great Britain.
The Bosnian police and the EU military forces have together arrested 27 wanted persons, including three persons suspected of war crimes. They have also arrested 44 persons later charged with various criminal acts, as well as more than a thousand persons who committed petty offences.
Colak cited last week's operation at a border crossing near the north-eastern town of Bijeljina, when a shipment of 27 kilograms of pure heroin was seized.
General Leakey said the joint operations particularly referred to drug trafficking, oil smuggling, illegal tree-cutting and people trafficking.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) recently published a survey according to which the grey economy in Bosnia-Herzegovina yields an annual turnover of some three billion euros. Criminals earn some 45 million euros annually from prostitution alone.