Indirect taxation authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina

December 28, 2006 - Today in Sarajevo Mr. Kemal Čaušević, Director General of the Indirect Taxation Authority, ITA & INTERPOL and Mr. Brane Pećanac, Head of INTERPOL of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an Agreement on Cooperation between these two institutions. The Agreement foresees that the Indirect Taxation Authority is allowed access to the communication system of the General Secretariat of International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL with a view to accelerate mutual exchange of information. This Agreement stands for both a legal basis for automated access to specific type of information that the INTERPOL has at its disposal and creation of technical conditions for faster exchange of information relating to stolen vehicles and administrative documents.
The key elements for more efficient fight against this type of organized crime and for breaking up the international chain of vehicle smuggling and documentation abuse are intensified cooperation with the INTERPOL and possibility of faster checking of information on stolen vehicles or documents.

December 16, 2006 - The successful action conducted by the officials of Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina and officers of the Police Security Centre Trebinje resulted in temporary seizure of 900 kilos of coffee and over 1,000 litres of various liquour The total value of temporarily seized goods that neither had a certificate of origin nor was labelled with valid control stamps for liquour, is estimated to approximately BAM 30,000.
There were also found larger quantities of labels signed "LOZA HEPOK" Vinarija Ljubuški, two corking machines, various corks as well as empty bottles indicating the existance of illegal liquour bottle plant.
By the writ of a preliminary proceedings judge of the Basic Court in Trebinje, the authorized officials of Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina and officers of the Police Security Centre in Trebinje carried out a search of office and residential space owned by M.J. and M.Š. from Trebinje. During the search there were found some 900 kilos of coffee without a certificate of origin and over 1,000 litres of various liquour that were not labelled with valid control stamps of Indirect Taxation Authority. There were also found labels signed "LOZA HEPOK" Vinarija Ljubuški, two corking machines, various corks as well as empty bottles indicating the existance of illegal liquour bottle plant. The owner of the facilities where those excise goods were found, will be prosecuted.
This successful action accounts for a continuation of activities on prevention of illegal manufacturing and circulation of liquour harmful for human health.
Indirect Taxation Authority encourages all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to report to the ITA-Hotline 080 02 06 07, free of charge and anonymously, any illegal trade of liquour and cigarettes. An illegal liquour and cigarettes trade is considered any attempt of selling those articles without being labeled with valid stamps of Bosnia and Herzegovina or stamps of neighbouring countries.
Photos of seized goods:

Seized liquour
(photo 1)

Seized liquour
(photo 2)

November 29, 2006 - The successful action conducted by the officials of Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina and officers of the Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton and Canton Sarajevo, there were detected new illegal liquour bottle plants at three sites in private facilities at the territory of Municipality Visoko and at one site at the territory of Municipality of Ilijaš.
There were discovered over 1,200 litres of ethyl-alcohol used for illegal manufacturing of liquour, larger quantities of counterfeited control stamps for liquour labelling, as well as certain quantities of already manufactured liquour (harmful for health) ready for black-market sales in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This successful action accounts for a continuation of activities on prevention of illegal manufacturing and circulation of liquour harmful for human health. We would like to remind that fully equipped illegal liquour bottle plants were detected at the territory of Municipality of Zenica in the beginning of this month.
On the basis of the information collected during the action conducted in Zenica, the officials of Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina with help of the police officers, detected new illegal liquour bottle plants in today's search carried out at the sites in Visoko and Ilijaš. This action brought to breaking of a smuggling chain, stopping of tax evasion and black market sales of liquour that might have caused severe health damage. This action brought to breaking of a smuggling chain, stopping of tax evasion and black-market sales of liquour that might have caused severe health damage. These actions were conducted by writs of competent courts because of reasonable suspicion that there were committed criminal offence of manufacturing and circulation of ingredients harmful for human health, including bootleg liquour, and of counterfeiting control stamps for liquour labeling. In the forthcoming period the Indirect Taxatio Authority is going to continue with its actions targeted at prevention of illegal manufacturing and circulation of liquour that is harmful for human health.
Indirect Taxation Authority encourages all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to report to the ITA-Hotline 080 02 06 07 , free of charge and anonymously, any illegal trade of liquour and cigarettes. An illegal liquour and cigarettes trade is considered any attempt of selling those articles without being labeled with valid stamps of Bosnia and Herzegovina or stamps of neighbouring countries
Photos of seized goods:

Illegal liquour

Counterfeited stamps
for liquour labelling

Counterfeited control
stamps

November 16, 2006 - Yesterday, at the territory of the town of Banjaluka, the officials of Law Enforcement Sector withinIndirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina detected over 6,000 litres of various liquour intended for illegal black-market sales. Total market value of temporarily seized goods is estimated to over BAM 100,000.
After the inspection conducted in sales and private facilities owned by a person with residence in Banjaluka, in addition to over 6,000 litres of liquour there were found counterfeited labels of manufacturers of liquour ŠTOK, corks for bottles, ethyl-alcohol used for manufacturing of liquour and counterfeited control stamps for liquour labelling.
There were also found and temporarily seized certain quantities of cigarettes that were not labelled with tax stamps of Indirect Taxation Authority as stupilated by legal provisions or were labelled with stamps of neighbouring countries. Larger quantities of plastic bags belonging to a famous manufacturer of washing powder ARIEL were also found in this action. The total market value of temporarily seized goods is estimated to over BAM 100,000. Indirect Taxation Authority has submitted a report to a competent prosecutor's office.
Indirect Taxation Authority encourages all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to report to the ITA-Hotline 080 02 06 07 , free of charge and anonymously, any illegal trade of liquour and cigarettes. An illegal liquour and cigarettes trade is considered any attempt of selling those articles without being labelled with valid stamps of Bosnia and Herzegovina or stamps of neighbouring countries.
Photos of seized goods:

Seized liquour	Plastic bags belonging to a famous manufacturer of washing powder ARIEL	Seized liquour (photo 1)	Counterfeited labels of manufacturers of liquour ŠTOK
Counterfeited control stamps (photo 1)	Counterfeited control stamps (photo 2)	Seized goods

November 14, 2006 - On November 10, 2006 the Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfilled thePlan on Revenue Collection from Indirect Taxes for 2006, to the amount of BAM 3.5 billion. The revenue collected in second half of November and in December will be considered surplus compared to envisaged revenue for 2006. We expect this surplus to amount to approximately BAM 0.5 billion.
We would like to remind that prior to establishment of Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, three separate customs administrations and three separate tax administrations collected BAM 2.8 billion in 2003 meaning that up to November 10, 2006 Indirect Taxation Authority managed to collect BAM 700 million more.
Indirect Taxation Authority collects revenue from indirect taxes (VAT, customs duties, excise duties and road taxes) to the single account. You can search for more details in the attached Presentation.

November 08, 2006 - In a joint operation of the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority – Regional Centre Mostar and the State Border Service Unit from Trebinje, new 4,490 packs of smuggled cigarettes were seized today. The operationwassuccessfully performed on the road Trebinje - Ljubinje. The Anti-Smuggling Team of the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority – Regional Centre Mostar and the State Border Service Unit from Trebinje discovered 4,490 packs of smuggled cigarettes today in the vehicle of make "VW Caddy D" with BiH license plates, driven by V.D. from Berkovići, in several concealed places. Upon on-the-spot investigation, it was established that the loading part of the vehicle was customised to make a compartment specifically designed for cigarette smuggling. In that compartment and also in the doors and the engine compartment of the vehicle cigarettes of the brands "Memphis lights" and "Davidoff lights", without BiH tax stamps affixed as provided for by the law and intended for further sale on the black market of Bosniaand Herzegovina, were concealed. The Trebinje County Prosecutor’s Office prosecutor on duty was also informed about today’s seizure. This was yet another attempt of smuggling via the so-called "Ant Routes", that is, the smuggling of smaller quantities on several occasions.
During the last month, this was the third similar seizure of smuggled cigarettes in the area of Trebinje Municipality and border belt with Montenegro. These are the results of the joint operational plan of the ITA Mostar Regional Centre Enforcement Unit and the State Border Service Unit from Trebinje agreed on 29 September 2006, based on the BiH ITA and BiH SBS Cooperation Agreement.

November 04, 2006 - The successful action conducted by the officials Indirect Taxation Authority and officers of the PoliceAdministration of Zenica resulted in locating illegal liquor bottle plants at three sites in the private facilities at the territory of Municipality of Zenica.
Fully equipped illegal liquour bottle plants, ethyl-alcohol in quantity used for manufacturing of various liquour, counterfeited control stamps for labeling the alcoholic beverage, counterfeited labels of various famous liquour manufacturers such as Štok, konjak Zvečevo, Loza Hepok, Loza Dalmatinka, vodka and some other manufacturers both from Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring countries were located at three different addresses in the Municipality of Zenica. Full equipment necessary for bottling and packing of liquour was found in the illegal bottle plants, together with large quantities of bootleg liquour labeled with counterfeited stamps. The mentioned products were intended for illegal black-market sales.
During the last few months the officials of Indirect Taxation Authority managed to identify and seize certain quantities of bootleg liquour labelled with counterfeited labels. However, today's action resulted in detection of illegal bottle plants wherefrom the liquour was placed at the black market of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This action brought to breaking of a smuggling chain, stopping of tax evasion and black-market sales of liquour that might have caused severe health damage.
The credit for success of this action should be given to both Cantonal Prosecutor's Office in Zenica and Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton who maintained extremely professional cooperation with the officials of Indirect Taxation Authority. By the writ of Municipal Court of Zenica, the officials of Law Enforcement Sector within the Indirect Taxation Authority and Regional Center Sarajevo carried out temporary seizure of equipment and articles found in illegal liquour bottle plants at three sites in the Municipality of Zenica. Once the investigation activities are completed the public will, in full, be informed about the details of this successfully conducted action.
This accounts for an additional example of Indirect Taxation Authority’s success in preventing, detecting, investigating and maintaining cooperation with competent prosecutor's offices, prosecution of criminal offences related to evasion of taxes and duties.
Indirect Taxation Authority encourages all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to report to the ITA-Hotline 080 02 06 07, free of charge and anonymously, any illegal trade of liquour and cigarettes. An illegal liquour and cigarettes trade is considered any attempt of selling those articles without being labelled with valid stamps of Bosnia and Herzegovina or stamps of neighbouring countries.
Photos of seized liquour:

Seized liquour (photo 1)	Seized liquour (photo2)	Seized liquour (photo 3)	Seized liquour (photo 4)	Seized liquour (photo 5)
Seized liquour (photo 6)	Seized liquour (photo 7)	Seized liquour (photo 8)	Seized liquour (photo 9)

October 15, 2006 - In a joint operation of the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority – Regional Centre Mostar and the StateBorder Service Unit from Trebinje, 4,060 packs of smuggled cigarettes were seized today. The operation was successfully carried out in the border belt in the territory of the municipality of Trebinje.
Today, at 5:45 AM, the Anti-Smuggling Team of the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority – Regional Centre Mostar and the State Border Service Unit from Trebinje discovered 4,060 packs of smuggled cigarettes in several concealed places in the passenger vehicle of make "VW" with BiH license plates driven by G.S. from Trebinje. Cigarettes of the brands "Karelia Slims", "Rothmans Royals", "Davidoff Lights" and "Classic Lights", the total market value of which is estimated at around KM 12,000, were intended for further sale on the black market in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was yet another attempt of smuggling via the so-called "Ant Routes", that is, the smuggling of smaller quantities on several occasions. We remind that ten days ago 4,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes were seized on the road Trebinje – Bileća. The cigarettes were concealed in the floor and other concealed places of the bus which operated on the line Trebinje-Mostar.
These are the results of the joint operational plan of the ITA Mostar Regional Centre Enforcement Unit and the State Border Service Unit from Trebinje concluded on 29 September 2006, based on the BiH ITA and BiH SBS Cooperation Agreement.
In the first 8 months of 2006 the ITA seized around 6 million packs of cigarettes intended for black market in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The principal District Prosecutor in the District Prosecutor’s Office in Trebinje was also notified of the today’s seizure.

October 15, 2006 - The Anti-Smuggling Group within the B&H Indirect Taxation Authority and employees from the Customs Terminal in Sarajevo prevented an attempted illegal importation of 7,500 pairs of falsified sneakers of the brand "NIKE" whose market value was estimated at over 300,000 KM. Over the last two months this was the seventh successful anti-smuggling operation at the Customs Terminal in Sarajevo alone.
Since the beginning of this year to date, the Indirect Taxation Authority employees have prevented the importation of falsified sports footwear into BiH in the value exceeding 4 million KM.
Through the operative activity of the Enforcement and Tax Sectors within the BiH Indirect Taxation Authority at the Customs Terminal in Sarajevo, the information has been obtained about a suspicious consignment of sports footwear. Upon thorough examination of the mentioned consignment, it was established those were falsified goods, more precisely sneakers of the brand NIKE.
The Indirect Taxation Authority informed the BiH Prosecutor’s Office of the mentioned case and 7,500 pairs of sneakers of brand NIKE, whose market value is estimated at over 300,000 KM, were temporarily seized at the order of the latter. The Indirect Taxation Authority employees also informed the holder of the right to industrial property about the mentioned case, who, in compliance with the Law on Industrial Property and with a view to protecting their trademark, have undertaken appropriate steps. All measures provide for by law will be undertaken against the importer of this sports footwear that arrived from China.
We remind that in the last two months this was already the seventh anti-smuggling operation at the CustomsTerminal in Sarajevo alone.
By way of their frequent operations, the Indirect Taxation Authority has initiated a resolute fight for protection of BiH citizens to whom falsified sports footwear is being attempted to be sold as originals of the world-wide known trademarks. On the other hand, these intensive operations of the ITA employees represent also a fight for protection of the right to industrial property in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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