Police in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Brčko District discovered 31 children, ages one to 12, in a private house who are believed to be victims of human trafficking. Authorities arrested three suspects—two men and a woman—who had been monitoring the children, Brčko District police said Wednesday.
The suspects were detained on suspicion of human trafficking, child trafficking, and child neglect or abuse, according to police. While authorities did not initially disclose their identities, the District Prosecutor identified them as V.P. from Banja Luka and Z.Đ. and A.Đ. from Brčko.
Bosnian media, citing sources close to Brčko authorities, reported that police found Croatian passports for the children and that the woman safeguarding them holds Italian citizenship. The two arrested men are reportedly father and son.
Police and prosecutors declined to provide further details as the investigation remains ongoing.
“In the further course of the proceedings, the Brčko District Prosecutor’s Office will take all available measures and actions, in accordance with its legal authority, to fully clarify the circumstances of this case,” the office stated.
Meanwhile, the District’s Social Protection Service and the local Red Cross relocated the children to a safe place.
