| Agency Name: | State Investigation and Protection Agency |
| Abbreviation: | SIPA |
| Nativename: | Državna agencija za istrage i zaštitu |
| Picture Caption: | SIPA headquarters, Sarajevo, Federation of Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Seal: | SIPA.png |
| Formed: | September 2005 |
| Motto: | "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" |
| Preceding1: | Information and Protection Agency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Headquarters: | Istočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Original Hq: | Nikole Tesle 59 71370 Sarajevo |
| Budget: | US $20 million |
| Chief1 Name: | Darko Ćulum |
| Chief1 Position: | Director |
| Chief2 Name: | Đuro Knežević |
| Chief2 Position: | Deputy Director |
| Chief3 Name: | Anđelko Hrgić |
| Chief3 Position: | Associate Director |
| Chief4 Name: | Jasmin Gogić |
| Chief4 Position: | Associate Director |
| Chief5 Name: | Kristina Jozić |
| Chief5 Position: | Spokesperson |
| Parent Agency: | Ministry of Security |
| Website: | www.sipa.gov.ba |
The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) (Bosnian: Državna agencija za istrage i zaštitu, SIPA) is the official state police agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1] SIPA is under the direct administration of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Essentially, it is Bosnia and Herzegovina's equivalent to the American FBI or the Russian Investigative Committee.
After the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Agreement, first organisation with very limited law enforcement authorities was Agency for Information and Protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Agencija za informacije i zaštitu Bosne i Hercegovine), established in 2002. These independent Agency had tasks to collecting data of interest related with international crimes and criminal legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and protection of VIP as well as diplomatic and consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In June 2004 current day's SIPA was created, by transformation of Agency for Information and Protection of BiH, under the Ministry of Security, but independent in operational matters.[2]
In accordance with the Law on State Investigation and Protection Agency and in accordance with other regulations, SIPA performs tasks within its jurisdiction throughout the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also the basic tool of stability and the tool for making the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina feel safe and secure from threats within the state.[3]
The activities of SIPA include the arrests of persons that are suspected of committing war crimes, as well as successful investigations of money-laundering activities, combating organized crime and terrorism, provision of witnesses with protection and support, and the formation and development of a special unit.
SIPA started off with just three employees, whereas today it has over 850 employees working in 11 organizational units at the headquarters of the agency and in 4 regional offices within the cities of Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, and Mostar. Through the activities they carry out, the employees of the Agency provide hope in the better and safer future for all the citizens of BiH.
SIPA Units are equipped like most counter-terrorist units around the world; with a vast array of specialized firearms including the Yugoslavian-made Zastava M70, as well as other variants in 7.62 mm such as the AK74 and AK74U, as well as 5.56 mm caliber assault rifles such as the M4A1 carbine.
There are also other weapons in different calibers such as the Heckler & Koch MP5, H&K G3, G36, various sniper rifles, pistols such as the CZ 99 and Glock 17, and non-lethal weapons such as riot control agents, stun grenades, and miscellaneous equipment including heavy body armor, entry tools, and night vision optics.
SIPA currently commandeers both military and civilian grade vehicles, such as Hummers, BRDM-2s, Iveco LMVs, Toyota Land Cruisers, VW Golfs, VW Transporters and Mercedes-Benz G-270s.
For operations involving aerial insertion, the main mode of transport are three Jet Rangers, two Bell 212s, one Mil Mi-8, four SOKO Gazelle Gamas, and one UH-1H.
| Model | Image | Caliber | Type | Origin | Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | ||||||||||
| Submachine Guns | ||||||||||
| Replaced by the P90. | ||||||||||
| MP5A3 variant with a retractable stock. | ||||||||||
| In use since 2014, replaced the Uzi. | ||||||||||
| A1 (select-fire) variant. | ||||||||||
| Rifles and carbines | ||||||||||
| SCAR-L CQC variant. | ||||||||||
| Replaced the Zastava M70. | ||||||||||
| Replaced by the Zastava M21. | ||||||||||
| Purchased in 2014. | ||||||||||
| Successor of the Scout. | ||||||||||
| Name | Image | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | ||||
| 20+ | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | G55 AMG and G270 variant. | |||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| FORD E350 | Unknown | |||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| Unknown | ||||
| 7 | ||||
| Name | Image | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | ||||
| 1 | ||||
| 1 | UH-1H Variant. | |||
| 1 | ||||
 France | 4 | Manufactured by SOKO under licence. | ||
Because they recognized the importance of the agency, many ambassadors and representatives from international organizations visited SIPA. Some Embassies even donated equipment and other material and technical support. SIPA cooperates, on regular basis, with EUPM and ICITAP, the result of which are the tasks performed in accordance with international standards and also the staff trained at some of the most renowned police institutions throughout the world.
Within the area of its legally determined jurisdiction, SIPA deals with prevention, detection and investigations of organized crime, terrorism and illegal trade—ABHO, war crimes and acts punishable according to the international war and humanitarian law, people trafficking, as well as all other crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court of B&H.
SIPA provides help for the Court and the Office of the Prosecutor of B&H, it deals with physical and technical protection of people, of buildings and other property protected under the Law on SIPA; it also deals with witness protection, prevention of money laundering as well as other tasks determined by law and by other regulations.