23 arrested in Bosnia on suspicion of ties to global drug kingpin [Video]

• Law enforcement officers in Bosnia have arrested 23 people suspected of being part of a global drug kingpin’s inner circle.
• Europol and Bosnian officials coordinated the arrests on Monday, detaining suspects during searches at their residences and other locations.
• Among those arrested were corrupt officials who facilitated the criminal activities of the network, according to Europol.

Law enforcement officers in Bosnia arrested 23 people suspected of belonging to a “global drug kingpin’s inner circle,” including police and security officials, in a clampdown on criminal networks controlling much of Europe’s cocaine trade, authorities said Tuesday.

Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, and Bosnian officials said the suspects were detained Monday as security forces searched their homes and other locations. They are suspected of drug trafficking, money laundering and other organized crime offenses, officials said.

“Among the 23 persons arrested yesterday are not only accomplices, but also corrupt officials identified as facilitators of the network’s criminal activities,” Europol said in …