During an operation near the border between the two Balkan countries, Croatian and Bosnian police arrested 16 suspected smugglers—11 in Croatia and five in Bosnia—Europol, which coordinated the action, reported Thursday.
The suspects are linked to at least 12 smuggling incidents in which migrants were illegally transported from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia across the dangerous Sava River.
Authorities say the criminals used overcrowded boats, knowingly putting the migrants’ lives at risk.
Once across the river, the migrants were hidden in passenger cars or the cargo compartments of transport vehicles. They were then moved toward Slovenia, Italy, Germany, and other EU countries. It is estimated that the smuggling network earned at least €80,000 ($86,410) from these operations.
During the raid, Croatian police searched 10 houses and 10 vehicles, seizing one gas pistol, multiple bank cards, 38 mobile phones, and five tablet computers. On the Bosnian side, officers searched five homes and confiscated 1,500 euros ($1,620) in cash.
According to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 35,000 migrants traveled the Balkan route through Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023, underscoring the region’s role as a key pathway for illegal migration into Europe.
Earlier this year, Europol identified the Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia border as the second most active hotspot for migrant smuggling in the Balkans. The agency also warned of a surge in criminal activities along the Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia-Slovenia route in 2024.